Pandemic solidarity: society's responses to state insufficiency

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Pandemic Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil occurred amidst pre-existing political and economic crises, worsening societal inequalities.
• The pandemic spurred individuals and organizations to implement support initiatives to mitigate its adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze supportive actions undertaken during the pandemic in Brazil.
• To examine these actions through the lens of pandemic solidarity and individualism.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing 34 interviews conducted between October and November 2020.
• Analysis focused on identifying supportive actions and categorizing them based on solidarity and individualism.

Main Results:

• Supportive actions were primarily observed within three core settings: family, condominium, and community.
• Family support was based on kinship; condominium support was intramural (among peers) and extramural (differentiating from poorer areas).
• Community actions exhibited strong self-management, mutual aid, and shared experiences of vulnerability, representing a more potent form of solidarity.

Conclusions:

• Solidarity manifests in various forms, from kinship-based support to community-driven initiatives.
• Community solidarity, characterized by self-management and shared vulnerability, offers a transformative societal model.
• The study suggests solidarity can be a powerful force for social transformation, independent of state intervention.