In the European countries bordering the Mediterranean at present we observe not only the manifold effects of austerity policies but also significant political and social changes triggered by the (economic) crisis since 2008. In many of these countries, we can also perceive new forms of social practices of networking, leading to growing opposition and protest articulated by local communities or by social movements, which are based on common acts of solidarity, cooperation and the establishment of (close) relationships. As Mark Terkessidis (2015) argues, these new forms of collaboration shift responsibility to individuals and communities, and imply the potential to transcend established institutional frameworks. Moreover, most of these forms of protest do not seem to be characterized by typical and well-known party ideologies or trade union demands (cf. Žižek 2012). Instead, new practices develop such as the (re-)appropriation of public space, networking, alternative ways of protest (Occupy, Indignados), and sharing, inspired by concepts of grassroots democracy, sustainability and anti-consumerism (see for example Corredera 2012; Fernández-Savater 2012). In many Southern European countries, these movements can be understood as newcomers in the political arena, since they see themselves in a distinct opposition to the established – often clientelistic – party structures of their countries.

In a special issue of Ethnologia Europaea planned for 2017–2018 the guest editors want to focus on these emerging collaborative (protest) practices in Mediterranean countries, which are related to or an effect of the current economic crisis. Building on the assumption that the Mediterranean can be understood as a common frame of reference for comparative research and analysis (Lauth Bacas & Kavanagh 2011), contributors are invited to reflect on collaborative interactions as practices of resistance and social or political change within new protest groups, solidarity initiatives and cultural projects related to specific local conflicts arisen in wake of the crisis.

The emergence of such movements and initiatives is, on the one hand, mediated by the direct communication of people involved and the establishment of personal relations and face-to-face interaction. On the other hand, the use of digital media leads to a reconfiguration of space facilitating networking and exchange of information between local communities facing similar problems. Manuel Castells (2012) describes “networked movements” which communicate via the Internet and lack an organizational structure; such movements are thus characterized by a lesser degree of identification and higher fluidity. Also, online activism, e.g. flash mobs, online petitions and hacktivism, allow spontaneous participation. Our understanding of personal relations and collaboration can encompass both physical co-presence and digital mediation, as it moves back and forth between them.

The guest editors invite the submission of articles, which address these social practices of networking and close collaboration in the context of social change or political activism since 2008. Contributors are encouraged to present ethnological and anthropological case studies – based on empirical research in Mediterranean countries – which also might address questions such as:

— What roles do persisting cultural patterns (see Schönberger 2015), for example informal networks, family relationships and friendship-based coalitions, play in the formation of collaborative communities?

— How do face-to-face-interactions and the use of digital media influence cooperation and protest practices?

— In which ways are established social and political processes transformed or reconfigured through alternative forms of collaborative practices?

Contributors are invited to either present cases of newly emerging collaborative practices of resistance (including the use of digital media) in a Mediterranean country, or to focus on more theoretical approaches regarding the implications of the above described developments.

From the submissions received, the guest editors will make a selection and set a deadline for article manuscript submission (up to 9,000 words). The journal will then initiate the peer-review process for the articles. When accepted for publication, authors are responsible for proofreading of their manuscript by a native speaker.
Please send your abstract (max. 500 words) and short biography no later than January 15th 2016 to the guest editors:

Jutta Lauth Bacas, jutta.lauth.bacas@gmail.com
Marion Näser-Lather, m.lather@gmx.de