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Understanding Solidarity in Society: Triggers and Barriers for In- and Outgroup Solidarity

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Solidarity and Social Justice in Contemporary Societies

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Abstract

This chapter takes a closer look at solidarity (to whom do we owe) in relation to distributive social justice (what do we owe). It considers both the social and the individual level, focusing on two questions: (1) Why do people express solidarity with ‘the other’ (inclusionary outgroup solidarity), in addition to, or instead of with ‘the same’ (exclusionary ingroup solidarity)? (2) What does solidarity imply at the macro-meso level of society, and what are social-psychological triggers of solidarity? The chapter reviews psychological and sociological literature highlighting (a) how solidarity can be inclusive as well as exclusive as well as (b) triggers and barriers of solidarity between different identities, groups and communities.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This chapter is largely based on a working paper ‘Theoretical paper regarding inter- and intragroup solidarity and identities’ written by the authors as a contribution to the international comparative study into ‘Solidarity in European Societies’ (SOLIDUS, Horizon2020, Grant number 649489).

  2. 2.

    See https://lostineurope.eu/ (last accessed 24 July 2021). This team of investigative journalists from the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Greece, Romania and the UK, collaborate to find out what has happened to the disappeared children in Europe.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Netherlands’ Ombudsman for Children, The Hague, The Netherlands

    Marit Hopman

  2. Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Trudie Knijn

Authors
  1. Marit Hopman
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  2. Trudie Knijn
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Correspondence to Marit Hopman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Mara A. Yerkes

  2. Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Michèlle Bal

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Hopman, M., Knijn, T. (2022). Understanding Solidarity in Society: Triggers and Barriers for In- and Outgroup Solidarity. In: Yerkes, M.A., Bal, M. (eds) Solidarity and Social Justice in Contemporary Societies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93795-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93795-9_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-93794-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-93795-9

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