ABSTRACT
Complaints about the erosion of social solidarity often go hand in hand with a simple explanation. Declining solidarity is allegedly caused by the process of individualization and, thus, progresses with each new generation. At face value, it is obvious that individualization is related to the erosion of solidarity. As social solidarity refers to mutual bonds and commitment, individualization points to the loosening of the ties between the individual and society. Thus considered, individualization and erosion of solidarity are two sides of the same coin: individualization undermines solidarity, and restoring solidarity is only possible by turning the individualization process back. If one thinks of individualization as an autonomous trend, one cannot but be pessimistic about the future of solidarity. Since the younger generations are more strongly individualized than older generations, the replacement of the older by the younger generations will inevitably erode solidarity even more. If it is true that social solidarity is the foundation of the welfare state, it will be increasingly difficult to sustain the welfare state in the long run.
