Civic Refugee Support: The Shifting Landscape of Pro-Refugee Communities in Germany After 2015 (Soziale Bewegung und Protest)

What became of the upsurge in civic action that saw millions of volunteers rally in support of migrants during the 2015/16 refugee reception crisis in Germany? Clara van den Berg examines the aftermath of that unprecedented mobilization, exploring how pro-refugee communities evolved in Germany. Drawing on interviews, observations, and document analysis, she finds that some pro-refugee communities managed to survive. The study provides fresh insights into how mobilization periods impact the local structure of civil society and its networks, and offers a new perspective on the role of solidarity with refugees and migrants today.

Clara van den Berg is a postdoctoral researcher at Freie Universität Berlin and a permanent guest researcher at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center. Before pursuing her PhD, she studied political science and international relations in Germany, the United States, and Sweden. She earned her PhD in 2024 from Freie Universität Berlin. As a social scientist, her research focuses on community building and civic action in civil society, with a particular emphasis on refugee support and advocacy. She is investigating affective polarization in civil society around key issues like climate change and migration.