Invitation to the seminar at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Wrocław

• The lecture ‘People Power: Activism in Hard Times in Central and Eastern Europe’ will take place on 27 April as part of the ‘Beyond Cultural Obviousness’ series. The meeting will take place from 18:00 to 20:00 in Wrocław (Klub Proza, Przejście Garncarskie 2). The seminar will also be streamed on the profile of the Wrocław branch of the PTS.

People Power: Activism in Hard Times in Central and Eastern Europe

People Power elevates the voices of civic activists from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and analyzes a wealth of different information to demonstrate that despite many challenges that have frustrated independent voices and social groups, activism in CEE is vibrant, diverse, and consequential.  The book gives special attention to the recent “hard times” – the shrinking of public space for civil society voices, democratic backsliding, economic inequality, polarization, and Russia’s war in Ukraine – facing citizens of these countries. My presentation will focus on the book’s three core arguments and our major take home points, highlighting two themes addressed in the book –digital activism and intergenerational dynamics..

• On 28 April, a seminar for students, doctoral students and is organised: ‘Ordinary People: How Poland Responded to Ukrainian Refugees and What it Says about our Future‘. The seminar is scheduled for 28 April from 10:30 to 12:30 at the Institute of Sociology, University of Wrocław. Registration for the seminar is required: https://tinyurl.com/ywf9pp63

During the seminar, Prof. Patrice McMahon will talk about her research and her forthcoming book (‘Ordinary People’). The seminar will also focus on conducting field research in a ‘digital world’ and address methodological and ethical issues related to conducting research in crisis situations.

Ordinary People is a compelling work of creative nonfiction that chronicles the responses of individuals and organizations in Poland to the influx of Ukrainian refugees in 2022. Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, this book not only depicts how these events unfolded but also reveals what they signify for the future of humanitarianism, the role of cities as key players in global affairs, and the growing challenges faced by displaced populations worldwide. By focusing on the bottom-up, grassroots efforts that emerged both on and offline, Ordinary People highlights the vital importance of local communities and individuals in responding to humanitarian crises. The book showcases how ordinary citizens can become extraordinary agents of change, demonstrating the power of empathy and solidarity in the face of adversity. Through its storytelling, Ordinary People also sheds light on the broader political and social dynamics at play. It underscores the urgent need for greater attention and resources to address the growing global displacement crisis

Patrice McMahon is a Fulbright Scholar based at The Adam Mickiewicz University. McMahon is also a Professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the US. She is also the Director of the University Honors Program. Her research focuses on humanitarian affairs, peacebuilding, civil society activism, and U.S. foreign policy. She is the author of The NGO Game: Post-Conflict Peacebuilding in the Balkans and Beyond (Cornell University Press, 2017) and is the co-author of American Exceptionalism Reconsidered: U.S. Foreign Policy, Human Rights and World Order (Routledge: 2017). Her research has appeared in various publications, including Foreign Affairs, Political Science Quarterly, Human Rights Quarterly, East European Politics and Societies, Democratization, and Ethnopolitics and has been supported by the US government and private foundations, including the German Marshall Fund. Her most recent publication is co-authoring a special section of East European Politics and Societies on civil society activism in Central and Eastern Europe in which she writes about activism in Poland. She also has written articles for The Conversation on Poland – : Poland’s Hospitality is helping Ukrainians thrive; Poland’s warm welcome to about 2 million Ukrainian refugees draws global praise; What grassroots humanitarians should know. McMahon is currently co-editing a book, People Power: Activists in Hard Times in Central and Eastern Europe and working on a project on grassroots humanitarianism in Poland.