The Courage for Civil Repair

"Given this moment of heightened xenophobia and nationalism, this book could not be more timely. Not only does it shed light on the underlying cultural processes that make some migrants ‘deserving’ while others get treated as undesirable burdens, it also helps identify the conditions that lead to successful mobilization on migrants' behalf. By bringing together cases from across the world, and incorporating the voices of a range of relevant actors, The Courage for Civil Repair makes an important contribution to theory and practice."

—  Peggy Levitt, Luella LaMer Slaner Professor in Latin American Studies and Professor of Sociology, Wellesley College, USA, and Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA

This original, scholarly collection of essays investigates the intersections of large-scale international migration and solidarity-building. Unpacking how civil courage occurs, underwhat forms, and what sustains it, Carlo Tognato, Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky, and Jeffrey C. Alexander bring together authors to explore a new theory of the exemplary individual or collective in the recent age of “migration crises”—actors who stand against injuries or injustices toward migrants, even when it is costly or risky in a context of hostility or indifference. A resource for those interested in the triggers and safeguards of democracy and civil society, and for scholars and practitioners alike, this volume offers empirical case studies from the US, Europe, Australia, and Latin America of cross-group solidarity efforts.