Communist solidarity: imposed, but impossible

This young man's dramatic story and the choice he made take us straight to the heart of the Bolshevik idea of solidarity. Pavlik's story became part of the mainstream art of the time – his short and tragic life was glorified in six biographies, several theatre plays, many songs, a symphony and even an opera – it was one of the pillars of communist propaganda.

The case presents a synthesis of the three pillars of the communist understanding of ‘solidarity’:

• • Demolition of the traditional source of solidarity – the family. Trust, affection and mutual support are perceived as being natural in the close interpersonal relationships between relatives. Family is at the centre of traditional society and at the core of the communitarian ideal of social solidarity. It plays such a significant role that even liberal thinkers such as John Rawls and J.S. Mill acknowledge that small communities are a benign environment for social capital and morals.

• • ‘Expropriation’ of solidarity from the social and its inclusion in the political. Spontaneous displays of solidarity are punished while its formal manifestations are encouraged.

• • Introduction of a radically different idea of solidarity based on political and party loyalty rather than on interpersonal relationships.

The communist understanding of solidarity is paradoxical. On the one hand, it is promoted to a significant position in official ideology. Its remarkably high ranking is related to its close interconnection with the concept of ‘homogenising’ the social individual. The purpose of the gradual diminution and elimination of differences between workers, peasants and intellectuals was widely promoted. The more homogeneous the society, the more quickly the variety of interests would disappear and solidarity and mutual support would become natural and widespread. The communist ideal ‘From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs’ represents the utopian vision of perfect solidarity; there is no obvious direct connection between inputs and outputs, between contribution and benefits.