ABSTRACT
Solidarity represents an ideal social structure which is closely linked to the aspects of social integration and social cohesion. The concept of solidarity has been interpreted in different ways. It may be conceptualized as a particular form of social cooperation that originates from the interdependence of interests. While normative theory advocates the concept of social justice, sociology generally refers to social solidarity. Since moral commitments based on solidarity are closely associated with social bonds, their generalization and extension beyond the community remains unlikely. The chapter explores the concept of solidarity that is less focused on social relations and serves to explain social action instead. He suggests conceptualizing solidarity sociologically as a social norm and psychologically as a normative belief. It argues that justice works as a stabilizer of solidarity relations. It finds four text passages supporting this view, all of them describing intergenerational justice as a precondition for intergenerational solidarity.
