Call for Papers: (De)colonial Solidarities Symposium

CALL FOR PAPERS

(De)colonial Solidarities: Whiteness, Colonialism, and the Politics of Allyship
27-28 August 2026
University of Turku, Finland

From Indigenous movements’ renewed demands for political, social, and environmental justice to transnational solidarity against genocidal violence in Palestine, intersectional calls to redress enduring colonial relations are currently taking center stage in global politics. In this context, the concepts and practices of solidarity and allyship have become critical axes of political mobilization. Often taken as straightforward and unambiguous, these forms of solidarity are, however, inherently fraught by the constitutive power asymmetry of their members. Attempts at solidarity are, as such, key arenas where power dynamics rooted in colonial histories and hierarchical relations can be both subverted and reproduced (Land 2015; Mahrouse 2014; Wright 2018).

Our term “(de)colonial solidarities” encompasses both efforts to build solidarity across difference that are explicitly decolonial or anti-colonial, as well as solidarities that are based within or inadvertently reproduce colonial structures. These can include – but are not limited to – coalitions between white settler populations and Indigenous and/or other colonized peoples, and transnational solidarity from the colonial metropole or from the “Global North” to the “Global South.” We aim through this symposium to draw attention to how whiteness and colonialism in their many forms intersect (see e.g. Bruyneel 2021, Moreton-Robinson 2015) and impact on formations of solidarity.

This symposium aims to explore the impasses and potentials created by these forms of solidarity. What can we learn from historical case studies of attempts at building solidarity? What does it mean to be in solidarity with a colonized people from within the imperial core? How does culture influence how we engage in solidarity, and what does anti- or decolonial solidarity produce culturally? How might projects set up in solidarity actually reproduce colonial dynamics? How do whiteness and/or colonialism shape the formation of coalitions with Indigenous struggles? What can critical race studies contribute to our understanding of anti- or decolonial solidarity efforts? And conversely, how might the study of anti- or decolonial solidarity contribute to further developing our understanding of whiteness and colonialism? Inviting contributions across disciplines, time periods, and geographical contexts, we aim to spark a conversation that breaks the prevalent compartmentalization of whiteness studies, colonial studies, and solidarity research and invites cross-fertilization between different practices and approaches.

We invite contributions focusing on (but not limited to):

• In-depth case studies of (de)colonial solidarities – historical or contemporary
• Theories and/or critiques of (de)colonial solidarity and allyship
• Literary/artistic engagements with or representations of solidarity
• Reflections on (de)colonial research methodologies across colonial divides

We invite proposals for 20-minute presentations from researchers at any career stage. The symposium will consist of two days of in-depth discussion of all the presentations, with the aim of producing a journal special issue or edited collection. Dr. Kevin Bruyneel (Babson College) and Dr. Katri Somby (Sámi University of Applied Sciences) will act as discussants at the symposium to provide comments and facilitate dialogue between the presentations.

The organizers are Dr. Reetta Humalajoki (University of Turku), Dr. Alice Baroni (University of Turku), Dr. Laura De Vos (Radboud University), and Dr. György Tóth (University of Stirling). The symposium is organized as part of the project White Solidarity and Native North American Rights in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, 1960s-1990s, funded by the Research Council of Finland.

Submission Guidelines

To submit a proposal, please send a 250-300 word abstract and brief bio to Alice Baroni (alice.baroni@utu.fi), with the subject line “(De)colonial Solidarities Symposium” by February 15, 2026. Notifications of acceptance will be sent in early April 2026.

Travel and Practicalities

The symposium will take place in-person at the School of History, Culture, and Arts Studies, University of Turku, Finland, with a hybrid attendance option. There will be no registration fee, and attendees will be provided refreshments and lunch on both days. Participants will cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. Please state in your submission e-mail whether you would prefer to attend in-person or online.

For a limited number of participants (max. 3) without institutional financial support (e.g. doctoral/early career/temporary-contract/independent researchers), there may be support available to cover three nights of accommodation. To be considered for this, include with your abstract one paragraph outlining your motivation and interest in attending the conference, and how its themes relate to your research.

If you have any questions about the symposium or practical matters, please contact either Reetta Humalajoki (reetta.humalajoki@utu.fi) or Alice Baroni (alice.baroni@utu.fi).