Solidarity

(From L. solidus, solid). A comprehension or awareness of the community of feelings, interests and ideals, or common objectives among people and their corresponding actions. In a society that is divided into antagonistic groups, this feeling has group or corporative characteristics, uniting people of common ethnicity, race, profession, class or strata, nation, party, etc. At the same time, and as a defect, it can set group against group, dividing society and provoking antagonisms and resentments. In certain social, political, religious and other movements it is present as a motivating force and moral principle of joint action for the achievement of common objectives, and it takes concrete form in the creation of solidary organizations and institutions [or: that practice solidarity]. At the present time, s, is becoming ever more clearly a moral imperative to provide aid and collective support to victims of natural and social disasters, and to victims of any type of injustice and violence. That is how s. is interpreted in contemporary humanist consciousness, which does not separate one human being or group from another but strives to unite all human beings, motivating them to act in solidarity.