Studies of Social Solidarity in Russia: Tradition and Modern Trends

The article provides an overview of the development of studies of social solidarity in Russia from the mid 19th century to the present day. Basing on the analysis of major works of leading social thinkers of pre-revolutionary Russia which address issues of social solidarity, cooperation and altruism we show that the study of these problems revealed the paradigmatic dichotomy of Russian social thought, reflected, in particular, in the discussions between the Westerners and the Slavophiles. Studies of social solidarity in modern Russia, a review of which is presented in the final part of the present paper, rest upon this rich heritage, but also reflect the current processes in contemporary sociology. Along with this, research on social solidarity is now a necessary component of the study of post-communist social transformations in Russia. In a situation of crisis or social trauma (P. Sztompka) the regulatory function of solidarity relations becomes especially pronounced. At the same time such conditions reveal a fundamental contradiction associated with the widespread prevalence of narrow group solidarities over broader solidarities. These issues are enhancing interest in issues of social solidarity among Russian sociologists.