Organizing for solidarity?
Strategies to deal with everyday racism in tenant and worker struggles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71057/kf563p50Keywords:
racism, solidarity, labor unions, tenant movements, migrationAbstract
This article uses comparative research on the tenant and trade union movements in Germany to discuss how these organizations foster solidarity. We explore the challenges and opportunities these movements face in fostering cooperation across diverse communities and workforces, as well as how they deal with everyday discrimination or authoritarian ideologies. Despite the fact that organizing fosters self-empowerment and improves material conditions, organizers grapple with societal divisions, prominently marked by racism. We present findings from our qualitative, empirical research on six different organizing projects. By identifying two strategic clusters, “All or nothing” and “The road is the reward,” derived from our empirical material, we illustrate the different strategies and their consequences for the organizations. In doing so, we offer a framework that can inform future organizing efforts seeking to strengthen relationships and address racism beyond formal political education.
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