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The Moral and Political Justifications for 'Crimes of Solidarity'
- When:
- Location:
- Bogomolny Library
- Room:
- 412
- Description:
-
Villanova University Professor Sally Scholz will be joining UBalt's Hoffberger Center for Ethical Engagement and the Philosophy, Law, and Ethics program for a campus-wide talk on immigration. Prof. Scholz's talk will analyze the criminalization of support for migrants making the journey across borders (see abstract below).
Prof. Scholz will engage scholarship and interdisciplinary interests in law, public affairs, business, and the humanities.
All are welcome to attend! Light refreshments will be provided.
Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request 10 days prior to a campus event and 30 days prior to an event requiring travel.
To join the discussion virtually, please email Steve Scalet or Josh Kassner to receive the Zoom link.
Abstract
Activists and scholars have dubbed the criminalization of support for migrants making the journey across borders as “crimes of solidarity.” This paper looks at the moral motivations and underlying justifications of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and individual actors in providing assistance, rescue, or humanitarian aid. The paper begins with an overview of the criminalization of solidarity, focusing, in a generalized manner, on the governmental policies that have criminalized acts of assistance for people on the move. I then examine each of three moral motivations and their underlying justifications offered by activists and advocates. I group these according to humanitarian aid, civil disobedience, and acts of global citizenship. The paper then turns to the political, suggesting that the “solidarity” of crimes of solidarity announces a political project that extends well beyond the provision of assistance and advocacy for law or policy reform. The political project, layered on to the moral motivations, opens a space for the recreation of the social, thereby offering a new imaginary for civic solidarity that extends the benefits of citizenship beyond formal recognition of membership.
- Contact Name:
- Steve Scalet
- Contact Email:
- sscalet@ubalt.edu
Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request 10 days prior to a campus event and 30 days prior to an event requiring travel.
