The pandemic and the field of solidarity

Abstract

Interpretations and evaluations related to solidarity exist as tacit background knowledge. However, in times of crisis they become debatable and debated. The pandemic provides a unique opportunity in this sense: as the meanings related to deservingness, social responsibility, and giving and receiving support are set in motion, reflection is born. Mapping these meanings provides an opportunity for analysing the fields, habitus and illusions related to solidarity (Bourdieu 2002) – that is the exploring of symbolic and material struggles framing social support. Our online, representative survey (n=800, made after the first wave of the pandemic) aims at describing the private and public processes of giving and receiving material and symbolic support. Based on a cluster analysis, ideal typical positions in the field of solidarity are elaborated. Furthermore, their structural background and attitude patterns are explored in order to reconstruct the dynamics of the field.