On the Idea of Social Solidarity: Some Lessons from its History

• In Event: 568 - Section on Altruism, Morality and Social Solidarity Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 03. Theory

Abstract

The history of the idea of solidarity in social science is extremely dramatic. At the beginning, about two centuries ago, this idea was interpreted as concentration of social life, as quintessence of society as such. Later solidarity was treated as a marginal concept on the boundary between politics, morality, law and social science. Sometimes, this idea was falling in a kind of lethargic sleep and the term "solidarity" almost completely disappeared from vocabulary of social science. Today, despite continuous skepticism of some social scientists, the charm and magic power of this idea remain enormous. In spite of the former criticisms and disillusionments, sociologists keep returning to it. Maybe, the idea of solidarity in general satisfies some fundamental need, intellectual as well as practical one. Is it a question of a real social phenomenon or of a dream that sociologists cannot give up and that makes them search again and again for this Holy Grail? No doubt, the return of solidarity in sociological discourse of today is a positive fact. But at the same time, the problems of this idea are returning too. These problems still persist and sociologists are to confront them. In this connection it is very important to learn the lessons of the dramatic history of the solidarity idea in social science. What are these lessons? The answer to this question is the purpose of this paper.

Author

• Alexander Gofman, National Research University-Higher School of Economics