Exploring the Concept of Solidarity: Reflections and Insights from the First Global Health Solidarity Online Forum

In a world increasingly shaped by shared challenges, solidarity has become a vital principle for addressing global health crises. But what does it truly mean to stand together in times of need? Pandemics like COVID-19 have exposed the fragility of healthcare systems while highlighting the critical need for collaboration across nations, communities, and individuals. Yet, solidarity—often invoked during crises—is a complex, multi-faceted concept that means different things to different people. This diversity in interpretation makes it a powerful but sometimes challenging ideal to realise. These themes were central to the discussions at the first Global Health Solidarity Online Forum, held on September 11, 2024. 

The Global Health Solidarity Project embraces a pluriversal approach—acknowledging a world of diverse perspectives and practices—to shift the understanding and practice of solidarity in global health. Since January 2023, the project has engaged stakeholders worldwide through regional workshops, interviews, and case studies to uncover a multi-cultural understanding of solidarity, with a particular emphasis on including previously silenced voices. The forum shared preliminary findings on the concept of solidarity, drawing from two African workshops held in Ghana (Anglophone) and Guinea (Francophone), as well as a case study from the Himalayan region. The project’s lead, Caesar Atuire, then explored how the dual concepts of deep and responsive solidarity offered further insights into how solidarity can drive meaningful change. 

At its essence, solidarity is more than an abstract ideal—it’s a lived expression of love, empathy, and mutual respect. This was clear in the findings from the African conceptualisation workshops. Here, solidarity was seen in practices like lifelong financial support within extended families, collective efforts to raise business capital, and communal responsibility in raising children. These traditions embed solidarity into everyday life as a long-term commitment, extending beyond immediate relief to sustained mutual support. Such examples of collective responsibility offer policymakers valuable lessons for global health. To promote the sustainability of health policies, there is a need to build trust: this means that policies need to be culturally relevant, non-discriminatory, and inclusive, ensuring that marginalised communities are part of both the planning and implementation processes. 

Solidarity is not limited to human relationships. A compelling case study from the Himalayan region revealed how communities extend solidarity to non-human species. Rooted in cultural beliefs about reincarnation, these communities united to protect wildlife, even halting hunting practices to preserve their ecosystem. This perspective broadens the scope of solidarity, showing how it can inspire advocacy for equitable health policies that address environmental and social determinants of health. By uniting communities around shared values, such advocacy can hold governments and organisations accountable for fair and inclusive resource distribution. 

A cornerstone of the forum’s discussions was the distinction between deep and responsive solidarity. Deep solidarity is grounded in the understanding that the flourishing of one is linked to the whole group. It fosters a way of life where communities thrive together, creating a foundation for long-term, inclusive responses to injustices. Responsive solidarity, on the other hand, is often sparked by immediate crises, mobilising collective action to address urgent needs. Whether responding to natural disasters, health emergencies, or political disruptions, responsive solidarity provides the momentum for immediate action, while deep solidarity ensures sustained engagement over time. Together, these forms of solidarity provide a comprehensive framework for tackling global health challenges, balancing emotional connection with strategic action. 

To secure equitable healthcare, resilience, and well-being for all—worldwide—solidarity must be integrated into global health strategies as a long-term principle, rather than just a response to crises. The forum’s key takeaways reinforce that solidarity is a practical necessity, not just a noble idea yet a key concern whether solidarity can thrive within institutionalised structures, or if institutionalising solidaristic practices could undermine their effectiveness.  The ongoing literature reviews, empirical work and the upcoming workshops in Australia, India, and Costa Rica may offer new perspectives and contribute to the investigation of how solidarity can be meaningfully sustained and practiced across diverse contexts.