Meaning of social solidarity (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Social Solidarity:

Social solidarity is a moral concept referring to the capacity or attitude of individuals in a society to help and support each other in specific aspects of daily life.

As such, social solidarity is considered a citizen duty, which commits us and relates us to others, and which, in this sense, is fundamental for the development and social welfare of people.

Social solidarity is horizontal, that is, it is exercised among equals, so that it implies a spirit of selfless collaboration that energizes relations between individuals in a community.

Its engine is common interests, belonging or empathy towards a certain group, the interest in the well-being of other individuals in society that we feel as our equals.

Generally, solidarity arises from the manifest impossibility of an individual to act in isolation on the social plane or, on the contrary, from the interest to find new forms of collaboration with other individuals.

Hence social solidarity is the daughter of a philanthropic vision of the world, which has particular relevance sense of compassion and empathy that an individual can develop to another, either by their needs, hardship or suffering.

Therefore, social solidarity also has a political dimension, as this is essential to engage individuals in building a society where justice, dignity and equality are fundamental common goods.

On the other hand, it is important not to confuse solidarity with altruism or generosity, which are rather vertical, and which produce exchanges between those who are "above", generous and magnanimous, and the others who are "below", poor and needy.

Durkheim Social Solidarity

According to the French sociologist Émile Durkheim, social solidarity is found in the collective consciousness of societies. The different social groups that make up a community need solidarity for the development of countless activities for which they must collaborate and support each other. Durkheim recognizes two types of solidarity:

• the mechanical solidarity, which is given in a community that is based on traditional knowledge, andthe organic solidarity, which is produced by the specialization of individuals in different types of jobs and skills, which generates a great interdependence. As such, social solidarity is essential to keep societies together.

See also:

• Mechanical and organic solidarity Social groups