Transformed Solidarity
Significant changes have occurred in contemporary solidarity. At the
beginning of the twenty-first century the traditional mechanical solidarity
of family, neighborhood, and church has diminished, but not completely
disappeared. The significance of religion has diminished but new
forms of spirituality have come into being. Family solidarity still has firm
roots, as is shown in substantial intergenerational solidarity. The solidarity
of informal care and volunteer work remains at the same level in the
Netherlands, as in most other European countries. The abstract solidarity
of donating to charity and membership of humanitarian organizations
is yearly increasing. The political engagement of Dutch citizens shows a
double tendency: less commitment to traditional political organizations
and a growing involvement outside these organizations. Also collective
solidarity manifestations without political goals seem to be increasing.
Many new forms of solidarity have made their appearance. Participants
to the Local Exchange Trade Systems, nowrapidly spreading over Europe,
are establishing social connectedness and community feelings by mutually
exchanging help and services. Furthermore, many self-help groups
and groups offering reciprocal aid have arisen as people sharing a common
fate provide support for each other. In big cities local authorities
encourage citizens to contribute to the livability of their own neighborhoods.
Also global solidarity is increasing: new social movements and
new interest groups exchange services and create social bonds through
the Internet. There are indications of a decline in civil solidarity, at least
since the 1950s.
On the basis of the findings presented in this chapter it has become
clear that it is impossible to speak in any general terms about a decline
or an increase in contemporary solidarity. Some forms have diminished,
others have remained at the same level, and yet others have increased.
Moreover, amultitude of new forms of solidarity has come into existence.
It is interesting to note thatMichael Schudson has reached a similar conclusion
in his book The Good Citizen (2000).He shows that in the United
States the decline in citizenship as supposed by Putnam and others is
only partly true. On certain dimensions of citizenship there is an increase
instead of a decline.We can conclude that solidarity has diversified, with
regard not only to the types that can be distinguished but also to patterns
of increase or decrease. The number of new solidarity initiatives
is hopeful and does not warrant a gloomy picture about contemporary
solidarity. One specific domain of solidarity, however, that gives rise to
some concern is civil solidarity, which can determine the quality of the
public domain and of social life to a large extent.