Samstaða

Samstaða is an Icelandic noun meaning solidarity, unity, or consensus among individuals, groups, or institutions in pursuing common goals or supporting one another in difficult circumstances. It can refer to a general sense of shared purpose as well as to concrete arrangements, such as coalitions or coordinated action across organizations.

The word derives from sam- meaning “together” and staða meaning “standing,” from Old Norse. Historically it denotes standing together or taking a common stance. In modern usage, samstaða covers both broad social solidarity and more formal political coalitions.

In public discourse, samstaða is used to describe solidarity within the labor movement, cross-sector partnerships, or across political parties in pursuit of a policy. It is also used to describe mutual support within communities during crises, such as disasters or economic hardship. The nuance ranges from morally grounded solidarity to pragmatic political alignment.

See also: solidarity; social cohesion; mutual aid; coalition; concord.