Global Solidarity

Can globalisation provide the conditions for a harmonious global community? ‘Solidarity’ has been a mobilising word since the mid-19th century, conjuring images of united action in pursuit of social justice. Lawrence Wilde explores this concept and raises the question of whether solidarity among strangers is a meaningful aspiration in our globalising age. Looking to the future, he explores the politics of global solidarity and the conditions required for its development. It distinguishes between various conceptualisations of solidarity. It critically examines the work of Rorty, Honneth, Touraine, Habermas and Fraser. It argues for a radical humanist alternative grounded in virtue ethics. It examines areas of social division – nationalism, gender, religion and culture – and suggests how to reconcile them.