The idea of solidarity in Europe

Abstract

The idea of solidarity has a key role in the dominant ideological strands in European politics and represents a distinguishing trait of European political identity. However, there are different concepts of solidarity in different political ideologies. All concepts of solidarity share an uneliminable core, at the same time differ in important aspects. The meaning of solidarity is determined and modified through the way the concept is integrated into a political language together with freedom, justice and other key concepts. However, does a specific European idea of solidarity exist?