The possibilities and constraints of engaging solidarity in citizenship

Abstract

In a broader sense, this article is interested in solidarity as a politically operational concept. To be able to answer more general questions – like What does it mean to base a political community on the principles of solidarity? Can acts of solidarity be used not only to help (support) others, but with the aim to change power relations and constitute new political orders as well? – we must first situate solidarity in relation to some already established frameworks of thinking about the political community. It is within theories and models of citizenship that I want to situate my exploration of the political value of solidarity in this paper. Firstly, if we want to go beyond isolated gestures and actions of solidarity, to question its general capacities for political reordering, we need to firmly anchor it in broad concepts that capture the ideals and visions of political community. Without a doubt, citizenship is one such concept. Secondly, there is hardly a theory or approach to citizenship that does not presuppose some aspects of solidarity as foundational. Finally, and closely related to the previous point, citizenship and solidarity, although often conceptually intertwined, form a paradoxical duo, reflecting further potential paradoxes that may arise from endeavours to engage solidarity as a political principle. In short, citizenship is a simultaneously inclusive and exclusive notion, incorporating the idea that some sort of boundary encircles a body of citizens (most often, but not exclusively, nation-state boundaries), despite the fact that solidarity loses much of its meaning when expected to operate and be exercised within certain imposed limits.

U ši rem smi slu, ovaj rad se ba vi so li dar no šću kao po li tič ki ope ra tiv nim poj mom. Ka ko bi smo mo gli da od go vo ri mo na op šti ja pi ta nja, po put: Šta zna či za sno va ti po li tič ku za jed ni cu na prin ci pi ma so li dar no sti? Mo gu li ak ti so li dar no sti po slu ži ti ne sa mo kao po moć (podrška) drugima, već i u ci lju pro me ne od no sa mo ći i konstituisanja no vih politič kih pore daka, is pr va mo ra mo po zi ci o ni ra ti so li dar nost spram ne kih već eta bli ra nih okvi ra mi šlje nja o po li tič koj za jed ni ci. U ovom ra du raz mo tri ću po li tič ku vred nost so li dar no sti unu tar raz li či tih te o ri ja i mo de la gra đan tva. Kao pr vo, uko li ko nas za ni ma so li dar nost iz van izo lo va nih ge sta i ak ci ja, te uko li ko is pi tu je mo op šti je ka pa ci te te ovog poj ma za pro iz vo đe nje no vih po li tič kih po reda ka, mo ra mo ga usi dri ti u po sto ja ne, a ipak do volj no ši ro ke kon cep tu al ne okvi re ko ji sa dr že u se bi pro ble me ide a la i vi zi ja po li tič ke za jed ni ce. Bez sum nje, građan stvo je je dan ta kav okvir. Uz to, sko ro da i ne ma te o ri je ili si ste mat skog pristu pa gra đan stvu ko ji ne pod ra zu me va ne ke od aspe ka ta so li dar no sti kao svo je ele men tar ne po stav ke. Ko nač no, u bli skoj ve zi s pret hod no re če nim, gra đan stvo i so li dar nost, iako sto je u poj mov noj sve zi, sa či nja va ju pa ra dok sa lan par iz če ga se mo gu pro iz ve sti i ne ki bu du ći po ten ci jal ni pa ra dok si s ob zi rom na po du hva te an ga žo va nja so li dar no sti kao po li tič kog prin ci pa. Ukrat ko, gra đan stvo je ujed no in klu zi van i is klju ču ju ći po jam, ko ji u se bi sa dr ži ide ju gra ni ce ko ja ob u hva ta te lo gra đan stva (naj če šće, ma da ne is klju či vo, gra ni ce na ci je-dr ža ve), dok so li dar nost uglav nom gu bi svoj smi sao uko li ko se oče ku je da bu de pri me nji va na unu tar odre đe nih na met nu tih gra ni ca.