Call for Contributions

Solidarity is a pivotal concept of applied ethics. Be it the labor movement, the organization of welfare systems, or the integration and social inclusion of migrants, the call for solidarity is unequivocal. A lack of solidarity is generally taken as an equivalent for anti-social attitudes and unjust economic structures.

This preeminent value of solidarity in applied ethics notwithstanding, the content and the normative status of solidarity are highly controversial in theory. One branch of the literature stresses the integrative function of solidarity. Here, solidarity is perceived as indispensable for the social cohesion of society. On the other hand, liberal scholars criticize the collectivist attitude of the solidarity principle and the social exclusion of those who do not adhere to common basic beliefs. In this respect, solidarity constitutes a specific mode of forced unity and limited individual liberties that paves the path to what Popper called a “closed society”.

On this conference, we want to address the normative status of the solidarity principle from a theoretical and empirical point of view.

We welcome papers dealing inter alia with the following:
• The impact of solidarity in contexts of migration and integration
• The significance of solidarity in a global, cosmopolitan society
• The meaning of solidarity from a philosophical or theological point of view
• The relationship between moral and political solidarity
• The specification of solidarity in economic theory
• Solidarity in market economies
• Evidence on solidarity, trust and cooperation from experiments and applied research

As the different views on solidarity become especially meaningful in times of migration and the integration of migrants with diverse cultural, religious and ideological imprints, special attention is given to papers dealing with solidarity in the context of migration.
Selected papers will be published in an edited book with an international publisher.

Dates
October, 18th-19th 2016
Venue: Catholic Academy, Munich, Germany

Organized by
Jörg Althammer (CU Eichstaett-Ingolstadt)
Ursula Nothelle-Wildfeuer (University of Freiburg)

Submission of Abstracts and Full Papers-- Abstracts (about 500 words) should be submitted by May 15th 2016
Notification of acceptance will be sent by July 15th 2016. Papers to be evaluated for publication must be submitted by September 15th 2016. For application and more information, see: www.solios.de