Citizens’ Solidarity in Europe

Edited by Christian Lahusen, Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, University of Siegen, Germany

'Solidarity is a neglected theme in political theory. It is also a crucial concern for Europe, where it is the necessary but often strained complement to economic integration. This valuable collection shows the importance of civil society organizations and also of law and the actions of ordinary citizens. It points to ways in which Europe can lead the world.'--Craig Calhoun, Arizona State University, US'This impressive book comes just in time. Solidarity is under pressure everywhere in Europe, not only from the far right, also from mainstream politics, the neoliberal media-elites and the European Court, that meanwhile restricts the right to move to the good and hard working citizen. However, European citizens see that differently. In their majority they understand solidarity as political and social equality between European citizens, regions and states, and they are prepared to pay for the common wealth of all of us. Moreover, as in the founding documents of modern democracy the citizens of Europe know that European solidarity has also cosmopolitan implications. This book gives courage to make ever more public use of our own reason, that only through public use becomes an irresistible force of solidarity.'--Hauke Brunkhorst, the European-University Flensburg, Germany'It is in moments of crisis that solidarity is all the more important, but also all the more contested. This very interesting volume help us understanding how European citizens, organizations and institutions conceive of and practice solidarity.'--Donatella della Porta, Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy

• Contents:1 European solidarity: an introduction to a multifacetedphenomenon 1Christian Lahusen2 Solidarity in Europe: a comparative account of citizens’attitudes and practices 29Maria Grasso and Christian Lahusen3 Waves of transnational solidarity organisations in times ofcrises: actions, obstacles and opportunities in Europe 55Maria Kousis, Angelos Loukakis, Maria Paschou andChristian Lahusen4 The welfare dimension: understanding trans(national)solidarity in Europe 85Simone Baglioni and Tom Montgomery5 Talking about solidarity . . . it sounds like a whisper: solidarityin law and public policies 101Veronica Federico6 Solidarity contestation in the public domain during the‘refugee crisis’ 120Manlio Cinalli, Olga Eisele, Verena K. Brändle andHans-Jörg Trenz7 Taking voice and taking sides: the role of social mediacommenting in solidarity contestation 149Hans-Jörg Trenz, Verena K. Brändle, Manlio Cinalli andOlga Eisele8 Conclusion: the entangled paths towards European solidarity 177Christian LahusenIndex 193