Solidarity: Our greatest ally

Up until today, solidarity remains an important concept in sociological theory. Just like the founding fathers of sociology, contemporary sociologists are searching for that which makes living together among human beings possible. Of course, this question is asked in different terms, taking into account the structural processes that shape contemporary societies.

These societies, as Durkheim says are not held together because people feel the same (they do not), but because of an increased awareness of being dependent on one another.

Solidarity is and can no longer be secured by a prior value consensus. Instead, it has to be cooperatively achieved through individual efforts. Durkheim claims that the growing awareness of interdependence and mutual obligations in complex societies leads to a ‘moral individualism’ that counteracts the danger of what he calls ‘egoistic individualism’, which needs to be kept under control as it threatens solidarity. This moral individualism underpins moral solidarity by fostering the awareness of and empathy for individual differences.

Solidarity then is intrinsically related to structural relations of power and is based on the recognition that by acting together will obtain more than they could by acting in isolation from one another

Social solidarity is our greatest ally against the Covid-19. The foundation of solidarity is found in human nature so on this uncertain time let's help each other in any way we can and prove once again what great people we are.