Social solidarity

1. Concept of
Social Solidarity

2. INTRODUCTION
 Solidarity is an awareness of shared interests, objectives,
standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of
unity of groups or classes.
 Social solidarity emphasizes the interdependence between
individuals in a society, which allows individuals to feel that
they can enhance the lives of others.
 It is a core principle of collective action and is founded on shared
values and beliefs among different groups in society.
 Therefore, since society is a complex web of different factors,
laws should try to further solidarity and cooperation between
different members of society.

3. Durkheim’s Theory of Social solidarity
 Durkheim defines Solidarity as “a social cohesion based upon the
dependence which individuals have on each other in more advanced
societies
 As part of his theory of the development of societies in his book
“Division of Labour in Society” (1893), Durkheim Characterized the
concept of Social solidarity Into two:
 Mechanical Solidarity
 Organic Solidarity
David Emile Durkeim
(French Sociologist)
(15 Apr 1858 – 15 Nov 1917)

4. Durkheim’s Theory of Social solidarity
 Mechanical Solidarity- It is social cohesion and unity arise from
the homogeneity of individuals, just as most people behave in the
same way. People feel connected by the same work, education and
religious upbringing and lifestyle, which is often based on family
relationships in family networks.
 Organic Solidarity- it is social cohesion based on the mutual trust
of individuals in more advanced societies. It is based on the
interdependence that results from work specialization and
complementarity between people.
Mechanical solidarity occurs in relatively small societies where
individuals take on many similar tasks. Where as, organic solidarity
develops in societies where people have highly specialized and
differentiated tasks.

5.  To empirically examine the transformation of society from the mechanical
to the organic type, Durkheim turned to the evolution of law as an
indicator of the changing moral foundations of society.
 Durkheim’s central concern, to show that modern society is characterized
by a solidarity that preserves individualism, remains valuable today.
 Social solidarity was always the focus of Durkheim’s attention. For him, it
serves as a synonym for the normal state of society, while absence of it is a
deviation from that normal state, or social pathology.
Durkheim’s Theory of Social solidarity

6.  It is true that Durkheim gradually moved away from the word “solidarity,” probably
due to its massive use outside social science and the thinker’s unwillingness to
become a victim of the idols of the marketplace or those of the theatre. More over,
the word was hardly seen/used in the scientific texts of the members of his school.
 His faithful disciple and nephew Marcel Mauss, in his two well-known texts, “Social
Cohesion in Poly segmentary Societies” and “Fragment of a Plan of General
Descriptive Sociology”, prefers to speak of “social cohesion” and not of “solidarity.”
Only briefly mentioning the two Durkheimian types of the latter in the second of
these texts.
Durkheim’s Theory of Social solidarity

7. Duguit theory of social solidarity
 Leon Duguit was greatly, inspired by the Auguste Comte and Durkheim.
He gave the theory of Social Solidarity, which describe the social
cooperation between individuals for their need and survival.
 Social Solidarity is the spirit of oneness.
 The term ‘Social Solidarity represents the strength, cohesiveness,
mutual consciousness and viability of the society
 Leon Duguit’s Social Solidarity, explains the interdependence on men
from his other fellow men. No one can remain without depending on
other men. Therefore, the social interdependence and cooperation are
very important for human existence.
Léon Duguit-French Jurist
(4th Feb 1859-18th Dec 1928)

8. Duguit theory of social solidarity
 The purpose of the law is to promote Social solidarity between
individuals; Leon Duguit deemed that law as bad law, which does not
promote social solidarity.
 Moreover, he also said that every man had the right and duty to
promote social solidarity
 In India, everyone follows the codified laws. Hence, it promotes Social
Solidarity.
Léon Duguit-French Jurist
(4th Feb 1859-18th Dec 1928)

9. Conclusion
 Solidarity in the end is the psychological concept impaired in societies that
despite man being social animals from time immemorial even unto the social
contract need to be united in groups or classes collectively for the special
purpose of shared interests, objectives, and sympathies. It refers to the social
ties that strongly bind people together as one body. The term is generally
employed in sociology and other social sciences as well as in philosophy and
bioethics. What forms the basis of solidarity and how it’s implemented varies
between societies.
 Solidarity is also one of six principles of the Charter of Fundamental Rights
of the European Union and December 20 of each year is International
Human Solidarity Day recognized as an international observance. At the Same
time, India celebrates National Solidarity Day on October 20 as well as
Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5 February as an observance of Pakistan’s support
of and unity with the people of Indian-administered Kashmir, the separatist’s
efforts to secede from India, and to pay homage to the Kashmir’s who have
died in conflict.