Solidarity
I am ploughing through Durkheim this semester for my research paper. Also Ibn Khaldun, but haven't got a chance to dig through the commentary on Muqaddimah. Hopefully soon, after I get a solid grasp on solidarity as detailed by Durkheim.
My starting point is 'paradox' of solidarity. While solidarity unites individuals, at the same time this inclusiveness exhibits antagonism to other groups. Therefore, differentiation is at the heart of solidarity. Solidarity binds us together but confronts us with otherness. In the context of the antithesis between society and individual, Durkheim talks about two types of solidarity -- mechanical and organic. Most readings of these are framed by the evolutionary aspect of the society -- elementary forms of solidarity is defined by sameness and collective consciousness, whereas, organic solidarity is characterized by a developed division of labor. I have found some papers that moved away from this schema and tried to show these two types of solidarity from the aspect of differentiation that gives rise to exchange and facilitates development of distinctive groups. Therefore, each of these groups can possess different types of mechanical and organic solidarity. Based of these understanding of Durkheim, I will bring in Khaldun's notion of higher and lower asabiya or group feeling, in order to justify more forcefully my point on the paradox.
My starting point is 'paradox' of solidarity. While solidarity unites individuals, at the same time this inclusiveness exhibits antagonism to other groups. Therefore, differentiation is at the heart of solidarity. Solidarity binds us together but confronts us with otherness. In the context of the antithesis between society and individual, Durkheim talks about two types of solidarity -- mechanical and organic. Most readings of these are framed by the evolutionary aspect of the society -- elementary forms of solidarity is defined by sameness and collective consciousness, whereas, organic solidarity is characterized by a developed division of labor. I have found some papers that moved away from this schema and tried to show these two types of solidarity from the aspect of differentiation that gives rise to exchange and facilitates development of distinctive groups. Therefore, each of these groups can possess different types of mechanical and organic solidarity. Based of these understanding of Durkheim, I will bring in Khaldun's notion of higher and lower asabiya or group feeling, in order to justify more forcefully my point on the paradox.