solidarietà

Solidarietà is a concept referring to a sense of unity and mutual support within a group, a commitment to the welfare of others, and a willingness to act for the common good. It encompasses emotional bonds, reciprocity, and a sense of responsibility toward fellow members of a community, whether small or large, local or global.

In sociology, solidarity denotes the cohesion that binds members of a society. Emile Durkheim distinguished mechanical solidarity, based on similarity and shared fate in traditional sociedades, from organic solidarity, rooted in interdependence and specialization in modern ones. Solidarity is reinforced by norms, institutions, and practices such as mutual aid, social protections, and shared rituals that sustain social order and cooperation.

Ethically and politically, solidarietà functions as a normative principle. In political philosophy and Catholic social teaching, it calls for supporting the vulnerable, pursuing social justice, and promoting the common good beyond individual self-interest. Solidarity operates at multiple levels—family, workplace, community, nation, and international relations—often motivating collective action, public policy, and humanitarian initiatives.

Applications of solidarity appear in areas such as humanitarian aid, labor movements, and social protection systems. It also underpins the solidarity economy, which includes cooperatives, social enterprises, and community finance that prioritize people and communities over profit.

Critics caution that solidarity can become exclusive, paternalistic, or instrumentalized, potentially masking power imbalances or infringing on individual rights. Realizing universal solidarity is challenging in diverse, resource-constrained societies, requiring thoughtful institutional design, inclusive practices, and sustained political will.