solidaritet

Solidaritet, or solidarity, is a social and political concept referring to mutual support and cohesion within a group, based on shared interests, values, or identity. It implies a willingness to stand with others and to bear costs for their benefit, often through collective action and shared responsibility.

The term appears in many European languages, including Norwegian and Danish, as solidaritet and solidaritet. In political philosophy, solidarity is distinguished from mere proximity by its active engagement in the welfare of others, particularly those perceived as belonging to a shared community, class, or cause. Historically, it has been central to the labor movement, socialist thought, and later social-democratic policy, where it underpins ideas about social insurance, universal rights, and inclusive public services.

Solidarity operates at multiple levels. Interpersonally, it means mutual aid among friends and neighbors. At the organizational level, it manifests in collective bargaining, mutual aid funds, or charitable networks. At the international level, it concerns support across borders for human rights, development, or anti-oppression movements.

Mechanisms of solidarity include solidarity unions, welfare programs, diaspora networks, and non-governmental organizations that channel aid and advocacy. Economic forms such as the solidarity economy or cooperative enterprises apply the principle to economic life by prioritizing people over profit and strengthening community resilience.

Critiques note that solidarity can be instrumentalized for political ends, risk paternalism or coercive imposition of values, and provoke backlash if perceived as unequal or selective. Debates focus on the limits of obligation and the balance between loyalty to one’s group and universal human rights. Related topics include mutual aid, social cohesion, and internationalism.