Saturday, April 16, 2016
Maestro A (DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City)
As Europe came to face a massive refugee crisis during the summer of 2015, German citizens responded in a surprisingly positive manner, giving rise to a massive, bottom-up mobilization under the label of a new "welcoming culture" ( Willkommenskultur). Using social networks and social media , citizens have organized donations, welcoming refugees at train staitions and other facilities, offering living space along with a wide range of other support mechanisms (e.g., language instruction). Focusing on the specifics of the situation in Munich, a major hub connecting current refugee and migration routes to and through Europe, this paper will take a closer look at the framing and dynamics of the current support mobilizations.
