Publisher's Weekly Review
Political activists Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor (The Age of Insecurity) offer a lucid and provocative treatise on the transformative potential of solidarity, which they define as "the recognition of our inherent interconnectedness, an attempt to build bonds of commonality across our differences." The authors spell out solidarity's benefits as a political tool: when people view themselves as "intrinsically bound in relationships of mutuality and care that span generations," it promotes their sense of an "obligation to provide a secure and dignified life to others," as well as their own entitlement to the same thing. Highlighting what is achievable when mutualism is at the forefront of political thinking, Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor point to a fifth-century BCE Roman labor strike for economic reform, revolutionary-era France, the 20th-century American labor movement, and the 1980s Polish dockworkers strike that precipitated the collapse of the Soviet Union. Moving on to contemporary tactics and talking points, they explain why solidarity does not require unity of opinion, detail how effective social movements are created, and condemn both sides of establishment politics as anti-solidarity: "If conservatives recklessly wield a scythe, demonizing different groups with sinister and destabilizing abandon, their liberal counterparts prefer to use garden shears, perpetually trimming solidarity back to manageable, and certainly not transformative, proportions." This will resonate with idealists eager for consequential change. (Mar.)
Kirkus Review
An investigation of the need for forging bonds in activist work. Hunt-Hendrix and Taylor have been activists for solidarity since they met in 2011 during the Occupy Wall Street movement. Hunt-Hendrix, granddaughter of oil tycoon H.L. Hunt, co-founded Solidaire, a network of philanthropists who fund progressive movements, and Way to Win, which focuses on policy and electoral strategy. Taylor co-founded the Debt Collective, a union that organizes debtors to fight for debt cancellation and other reparative social policies. Solidarity, the authors argue persuasively, is essential for confronting deep social, political, and ecological problems. At a time of increasing polarization, "what can enable us to come together despite entrenched social divisions and the immense power of self-interested elites?" Recognizing that feelings of cohesiveness can create exclusionary groups--such as the solidarity shared by white supremacists--the authors posit "transformative solidarity," which fosters fellowship across differences, stands against divisive forces, and works toward collective action for the common good. The authors trace the concept of solidarity from ancient Rome, where debt was a collective obligation, to modern movements such as Black Lives Matter. They examine the generation of liberal democratic ideals after the French Revolution and the rise of solidarism from the social disruption caused by the Industrial Revolution. Solidarists held that interdependence, "a fact of human life and the natural world," should be the basis of law and policy. However, solidarity is undermined by a market-driven system that encourages people to see each other as competitors for resources and to spurn solidarity in favor of self-interest. Philanthropy by billionaires functions as a "fig leaf" to cover up injustices, intensifying the difference between givers and receivers. For lasting change, solidarity, the authors assert, requires the cultivation of justice, commitment, courage, humility--and a conviction that we can remake the world. An impassioned manifesto for social reform. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
Activists and organizers Taylor (cofounder of Debt Collective; The Age of Insecurity) and Hunt-Hendrix (cofounder of Solidaire and Way To Win) present a full thesis on the concept of solidarity, from its interpretations to its practice. Each chapter contains working definitions, historical context, modern examples, and an analysis and evaluation of the execution of solidarity within these areas. These well-integrated chapters create relevance; readers will understand why the Roman Empire is featured as one example, while Amazon's essential workers figure in another. Activism, philanthropy, and social reform are covered with an accuracy that conveys where the movements have made progress and where they fall short. Instead of constructing a community and naming an opponent, which makes solidarity a defense mechanism, Taylor and Hunt-Hendrix ask readers to critically reflect on their own positions, turning solidarity into an active principle. The book concludes with solid, relevant instructions on how to evolve solidarity into an everyday, effective practice, both domestically and internationally. VERDICT Readers interested in the intersection of politics and practice will devour this impressive work.--Tina Panik
