Care is shaped by context, resources, and repression
In Belarus, the destruction of civic space after 2020 made community organising dangerous. Many activists in exile rely on private psychological support — essential but costly and unable to replace community-based care. Fear of surveillance limits the formation of new friendships and networks; care persists in fragmented forms such as encrypted chats, online check-ins, and discreet mutual support.
In the Transnational case study, participants from Turkey living in exileexplained that collective care keeps them politically engaged despite bureaucratic violence and trauma. At the same time, queer academic Egemen from the transnational case-study outlined how difficulties in accessing queer (migrant) networks affect his feelings of isolation, non-belonging and in-betweenness.
Rising right-wing sentiments in Germany, as well as rising support for the AfD party, reinforce these feelings. (p. 12) Therefore, many seek networks and groups that prioritise intersectional experiences, such as queer migrant groups.
Across contexts, activists emphasised that formal institutions frequently fail them. Migrants, racialised activists, and disabled activists encounter additional barriers, making intersectional forms of care essential.
Care is shaped by context, resources, and repression