The Principle Of Solidarity

Social scientists have long recognized that solidarity is essential for such phenomena as social order, class, and ethnic consciousness, and the provision of collective goods. In presenting a new general theory of group solidarity, Michael Hechter here contends that it is indeed possible to build a theory of solidarity based on the action of rational individuals and in doing so he goes beyond the timeworn disciplinary boundaries separating the various social sciences.

The term solidarity has acquired a commendable meaning of mutual responsibility, yet remains suspect because it has been invoked in too broad a spectrum of cultural contexts, ranging from fascist ideology to human rights. This essential book shows how solidarity may be – should be – conceived as a normative principle with pressing legal content, instrumental to the realisation of the social ends of today’s democratic polities. The author, for the first time in such depth, documents the interweaving of legal norms with social ideas and values, focusing on the use of the principle of solidarity in the European Union’s bodies and in its Member States. There are detailed examinations of how the principle appears in such realms as the following: national constitutions; welfare systems; regulation of contracts; social effects of legal rules; women’s rights; the social market economy; the social doctrine of the Catholic Church; affirmation of corporate social responsibility; and sustainability and corporate governance. The author describes how each context contributes to a meaningful elaboration of the concept of solidarity, thus synthesising and extending prior work on the subject. Following Kant’s dictum that the solidarity of mankind is a ‘to be or not to be; a matter of life or death’, in today's difficult and calamitous times it is appropriate to rethink the principle of solidarity as the reason for living, living fully and not just surviving, in a social agglomeration we call a community. Decoding solidarity, in order to fully understand its potentialities, misrepresentations, and mystifications has therefore become a task entrusted to jurists. For this reason, this matchless book will prove invaluable for lawyers, judges, and policymakers, all of whose professions demand authoritative knowledge of the legal relations among individuals and among legal entities.

This book examines different approaches by which states characterised by federal or decentralized arrangements reconcile equality and autonomy. In case studies from four continents, leading experts analyse the challenges of ensuring institutional, social and economic equality whilst respecting the competences of regions and the rights of groups.

The European Union has evolved from a purely economic organisation to a multi-faceted entity with political, social and human rights dimensions. This has created an environment in which the concept of solidarity is gaining a more substantial role in shaping the EU legal order. This book provides both a retrospective assessment and an outlook on the future possibilities of solidarity’s practical and theoretical meaning and legal enforcement in the ever-changing Union.

"Based on extensive experience in classrooms, committees, and worshops, leading author and nurse educator Peggy Chinn illustrates how every participant in a group can be valued as a leader... Chinn advocates for a more equitable group model by using cooperative processes, and demonstrates how to overcome habits of exclusionary group interactions. This hands-on guide is the essential resource for faculty, community groups, and others seeking to promote greater integrity and cooperation in their groups and organizations"--

Introduction /Christian Lahusen and Veronica Federico --Denmark /Deniz Neriman Duru, Thomas Spejlborg Sejersen and Hans-Jörg Trenz --France /Manilo Cinalli, Carlo de Nuzzo --Germany /Ulrike Zschache --Greece /Maria M. Mexi --Italy /Veronica Federico and Nicola Maggini --Poland /Janina Petelczyc --Switzerland /Eva Fernández G.G. and Délia Girod --The United Kingdom /Tom Montgomery and Simone Baglioni --Solidarity in the European Union in times of crisis : towards "European solidarity"? /Ester di Napoli and Deborah Russo --Solidarity in times of crisis : disability, immigration and unemployment in Denmark /Deniz Neriman Duru, Thomas Spejlborg Sejersen and Hans-Jörg Trenz --Disability, unemployment, immigraiton : does solidarity matter in times of crisis in France? /Manilo Cinalli, Carlo de Nuzzo --Disability, unemployment, immigration : the implicit role of solidarity in German legislation /Ulrike Zschache --Greece in times of multiple crises : solidarity under stress? /Maria M. Mexi --Disability, unemployment, immigration : does solidarity matter at times of crisis in Italy? /Veronica Federico and Nicola Maggini --Disability, unemployment, immigration : does solidarity matter in times of crisis? : the Polish case /Janina Petelczyc --Switzerland : vulnerable groups and multiple solidarities in a composite state /Eva Fernández G.G. and Tania Abbiate --Solidarity in austerity Britain : the cases of disability, unemployment and migration /Tony Montgomery and Simone Baglioni --Conclusion:Solidarity as a public virture? /Veronica Federico.

This book presents a new view on the concept of solidarity and explains how it complements justice in health and social care.

This volume analyses important debates about political responsibility, conscience, loyalty, collective action, moral agency, and the individual in society. Through these debates the volume advances a novel theory of solidarity and provides a major original contribution to a field of growing interest.