Collective Action Network Online Meeting 2025

Title: CAN Online Meeting 2025

Date: 06.05.2026

Location: Virtual

Organizer: Collective Action Network

We had the pleasure of joining the 2nd CAN Conference — a fully online gathering organised by the Collective Action Network, bringing together researchers and practitioners from across the world. Despite the time zones, the energy was remarkable.

Over two days, we hopped between blitz sessions on racial and gender equality, solidarity and migration, climate and mental health, and resistance. The highlight for us was getting to share some preliminary results of the HERMES project what we've been working on.

We presented in the Solidarity & Migration blitz session. The title of our talk was: "Migrant Empowering Voices: How Collective Action and Individual Mobility Narratives Affect Host Culture Members' Reactions".

We know that stories about empowered role models from disadvantaged groups can push advantaged group members toward greater solidarity. But not all stories are equal. Some focus on collective action — people joining forces to fight structural barriers. Others focus on individual mobility — someone beating the odds through personal grit. The second type can feel inspiring, but it also risks feeding a "meritocracy" mindset: if they made it, why can't everyone? That narrative can quietly undermine support for systemic change.

We presented early data from two studies: a validation study (15 experts + 200 host-culture participants) and an online panel study (1,500 participants) testing how these narratives affect emotions, perceived outgroup empowerment, and real prosocial behaviour.

Huge thanks to Melis, Maja, and Helena for organising — and to everyone who joined our session. Until next edition, CAN.

— The HERMES team