THE PHENOMENON OF SOLIDARITY IN POST-POLITICAL CONSENSUS

Abstract

The profound transformation of all aspects of society's existence, which began in the last quarter of the previous century and continues to this day, has changed almost the entire structure of social relations, both in its morphological and substantive plans. Social solidarity is presented as a dynamic and non-guaranteed state arising in the course of human interaction and requiring constant activity of all participants of the interactive process. The main integrative role is played by joint action and its interpretations, the proximity of which ensures the consolidation of society. The influence of solidarity on the reproduction function of the social system at all its hierarchical levels – from groups of primary social practices to the society as a whole – has been studied. It is substantiated that the state or level of social solidarity in society determines the degree of harmony of its functioning, and in general determines the life chances and prospects of this society. It is noted that the reduction of solidarity carries a threat of social disintegration. It is emphasized that in the normal functioning of society, solidarity is the object of unremitting attention, both on the part of the ruling group in society, whose actions are almost inseparable from the goals of reproduction of society and its power, and on the part of other social institutions, whose activities are directly conditioned by the level of consolidation and cooperation of their members. Accordingly, a state of social relations in which neither the authorities nor other institutions demonstrates adequate concern for the degree of consolidation of the social whole cannot be considered normal. It is shown that within the post-political consensus, class identity appears as the result of a specific political gesture – a political and discursive construction. Political-discursive analysis is defined as an independent and self-sufficient methodology that enables a new perspective on traditional objects of political inquiry, such as populist movements and ideologies, large-scale social conflicts, the absolutization of ideology, and the ideologization of the functioning of various societal discourses.