Introduction: Vigilance and the pursuit of better lives: Dilemmas and politics of upward mobility

In this introduction, we propose that people pursuing upward social mobility in uncertain and often adverse contexts must be watchful as a key condition of “moving up.” We develop a conceptual framework that connects social mobility with vigilance—not in the narrow sense of state-driven surveillance, but as a broader constellation of watchfulness that aligns personal attentiveness with goals and responsibilities extending beyond individual advancement. In this sense, vigilance captures how aspiring individuals and groups monitor opportunities, manage risks, and navigate tensions in their pursuit of better lives. We examine social mobility through three key sites where vigilance and upward advancement intersect: education, family, and migration. Using vigilance as a conceptual lens allows us to illuminate the multifaceted dilemmas actors face as they strive for social advancement in contexts where belonging is contested, economic opportunities are constrained, and oppressive regimes persist.