ABSTRACT
Throughout Europe, while citizens are aiding asylum seekers and migrants there has simultaneously been an increase in the criminalization of such actions. While these actions are often described as humanitarian, such a framing may obscure the more dissident aspects of the actions taking place to aid migrants. This chapter considers why, particularly in the context of criminalization, it is necessary to consider aid to migrants through frames other than humanitarianism and suggests hospitality and solidarity as possibilities. It considers how people are rupturing conventionally accepted patterns of citizen behaviour by interpreting their aid to migrants through these two alternative theoretical frames. Both hospitality and solidarity are contested concepts, but they also allow for a consideration of the more radical nature of citizen activism in favour of non-citizens, particularly when in contravention of state law. Empirically, this chapter is based on actions taking place along the French–Italian border, where people engage in various practices of solidarity and hospitality for migrants that have been met with prosecutions. The chapter further considers how, as aid is being criminalized, acts of solidarity and hospitality may become new ways of performing citizenship that rupture conventional patterns. Therefore, the chapter situates how citizen performances of solidarity and hospitality in favour of migrant non-citizens can be understood as political acts promoting inclusion.
