ABSTRACT
This chapter connects the most mundane practices of everyday life to the abstract philosophical formulations of recognition as a key dimension of social justice in particular, and of collective life more generally. It outlines how two broad literatures – recognition scholarship and microsociology – might complement one another in order to advance our understanding of solidarity between strangers in everyday urban life. The chapter analyses the functioning of mutual indifference in everyday urban life to show how it forms a key element of social solidarity between strangers. It treats the interpersonal negotiation of the proximity as a general concern in urban life, with the overarching aim of developing a minimalist conception of solidarity. The chapter focuses the analytic attention on the dynamics of interpersonal interaction between strangers in cities to develop this minimalist conception of solidarity.
