Reimagining Belonging: : Acts of Resistance and Solidarity in Malmö

As European migration policies grow increasingly restrictive, civil society faces new challenges that require adaptation, resistance, and a reimagining of its roles. This research focuses on how civil society organizations (CSOs) in Malmö, Sweden, respond to the restrictive turn of national migration and the rising hostility toward undocumented migrants. Malmö’s unique history of immigration, strong civic engagement, and politically active local society provide a rich context for studying grassroots responses to restrictive policies. Through semi-structured interviews with the key representatives of CSOs in Malmö, this study explores how solidarity is practiced as a deliberate political act. Building on Dimitriadis and Ambrosini’s (2022) concepts of de-bordering solidarity and active citizenship (Ambrosini, 2024), it reveals how everyday acts of support challenge dominant migration regimes. Despite many groups identifying as apolitical, their actions contest exclusionary state policies and work to redefine belonging and rights. In a worsening political climate post-elections, CSOs face increased difficulties navigating legal systems, positioning their defense of human rights as a political stance against exclusionary legislation.