Navigating Constraints: How Volunteers in Organise to Welcome Migrants

In the mountainous region along the French-Italian border, where Briançon is located, volunteers and activists tirelessly work to welcome and support migrants. However, their efforts come with significant challenges.

My recent research explores how these individuals organise themselves under tough conditions, often using time-consuming and low-profile strategies to avoid detection. By adopting horizontal, non-hierarchical structures, I discovered that these volunteers can continue their vital humanitarian work despite facing external pressures.

So what are my key findings?

• The role of constraints in volunteer organising. This research highlights that constraints—such as geographic obstacles and the presence of police and far-right groups—play a critical role in shaping how people organise. In Briançon, volunteers navigate these challenges by creating leaderless, horizontal structures that help them operate under the radar, relying on collaboration, trust, and time to sustain their efforts.
• Horizontal structures as a response to challenges. Volunteers in Briançon have developed a system where temporary skill-based hierarchies form as needed and dissolve once tasks are complete. This fluid approach prevents any one person from holding power for too long, which is vital for maintaining safety and anonymity in a highly monitored environment. Although this method is efficient, it requires a significant investment of time to build trust, train new members, and keep the organisation running smoothly without formal leadership.
• Time as a resource for resistance. A notable aspect of the volunteer efforts in Briançon is their strategic use of time. In a capitalist world where rigid schedules often limit alternative ways of living, these volunteers carve out personal time to engage in meaningful activism. This dedication is essential for maintaining the horizontal structures necessary for welcoming migrants. Despite juggling work, personal responsibilities, and activism, the volunteers have successfully resisted these pressures, allowing them to focus on their humanitarian goals. Their commitment, free from the constraints of capitalist time, significantly contributes to their success in supporting migrants.
• The ethnographic lens. This study is grounded in ethnographic research conducted with volunteers and activists at the French-Italian border, a key crossing point for migrants. While the harsh mountainous terrain presents challenges, the most significant obstacles come from local police, judicial authorities, and far-right groups seeking to hinder their efforts. To navigate these threats, volunteers use low-profile, horizontal structures that are crucial for their safety. This approach reveals not only how they organise but also why; by avoiding a reliance on a single leader, they reduce the risk of being targeted by authorities, which makes their operations more resilient.
• Briançon as a model for resistance. Briançon exemplifies how organisations can thrive despite constraints. Many volunteers are drawn to the area for its meaningful purpose, prioritising community and social justice over traditional capitalist productivity, similar to findings from Snikersproge. The town has become a refuge for those committed to helping vulnerable populations, such as migrants. In a broader European context, where far-right movements create significant obstacles to migrant support, the success of Briançon’s volunteers in fostering a welcoming environment is particularly impressive. Their efforts provide an alternative model for how communities can organise in the face of adversity.

This study emphasises how constraints shape organisational strategies, focusing on the importance of time and adaptability. Future research should investigate why Briançon’s volunteers have more time for activism compared to others, and compare their efforts with those in cities like Nice, where similar pressures exist. Understanding these dynamics can offer valuable lessons on how volunteers and activists navigate challenges in politically charged environments.

• Dr Simon Combes, Lecturer in Health Economics, Global Business School for Health