Where are we as a society at the beginning of the 21st century and where do we want to go? Are we spinning utopias and colonizing Mars soon, or are we solving social and environmental injustice on Earth? Do we work for more democracy, fair and transparent trade relations, a more peaceful and humane foreign policy or do we surrender to populist and autocratic dystopias? If there is one thing that the current Covid-19 pandemic makes clear to us, it is that global problems are also human problems and require solidarity – if only for the self-interest of the respective societies.

At this point, we as the new team from the M.A. Peace and Conflict Studies at Philipps-Universität-Marburg will gladly continue the great work of our predecessors. As before, the broad concept of solidarity remains the framing of this blog’s content. Our contributions and those of the authors are to negotiate again and again what solidarity means for everyone, where solidarity begins and where it ends. Is it simply a matter of providing a platform for marginalized voices, or must every contribution aim for social change? Which groups are considered to be marginalized and how are they represented? Critical self-reflection of our privileges and chosen focal points will be focussed. Nevertheless, a space opens up for various other topics, which will also enrich the diversity of our blog and hopefully stimulate exciting new dynamics on this platform.