Contested Solidarity - Between Particularism and Universalism

Abstract

While solidarity is one of the most prominent concepts invoked in social and political struggles and conflicts, it is at the same time also one of the most contested in theoretical debates. Accordingly, research on solidarity – which has seen a considerable surge in recent years – is largely occupied with elaborating on the most disputed aspects of solidarity, including its specific demands, foundation(s), and scope. Underlying all this, however, is a more fundamental conceptual tension, which has been characteristic of solidarity since the late 18th century, namely one between particularism and universalism. Solidarity either refers to obligations and reciprocal relations within particular groups, or to a universal bond with 'aliens', and potentially all humankind. Consequently, the panels aims at addressing two interrelated questions: Firstly, how do the particularistic and the universalistic meaning of solidarity relate to each other? And, secondly, to what extent is this twofold space of meaning dependent on a distinctly ‘modern’ configuration of politics and society, and how has it been affected by more recent changes (like globalization, digitalization, or the formation of new political entities such as the EU)? The panel engages with these topics in a two-step process. First, some presentations will be dealing with the conceptualisation of solidarity on a general theoretical level. What does solidarity mean, how did our current understanding(s) of solidarity evolve and what are the challenges and prospects for theorising solidarity? Moreover, does solidarity inhibit a legitimacy function in contemporary welfare states by being a mode of redistribution as well as a social bond among its community members? This builds the conceptual bridge to the second step in which presentations 'zoom in' on solidarity in the European Union. These presentations will deal with the questions of who can and should act in solidarity with whom – states, groups, citizens, migrants – and on which (conflictual) foundations such solidarity is build upon. Furthermore, what are the limits and boundaries of a European solidarity project which is either situated on a normative transnational commitment among citizens or on moral international obligations between EU member states?