Solidarity instead of Pessimism

Amid wars, crises, and polarization, calls for solidarity are becoming ever louder. Yet the world seems largely unimpressed. A new research network is dedicated to exploring the significance of solidarity in today’s world.The year 2026 got off to a turbulent start. Faced with geopolitical escalation and media-driven generational bashing, the glue that holds our social order together appears to be crumbling. We have grown accustomed to it. In recent years, though it is difficult to say exactly since when, one piece of bad news has followed another. We are confronted with military conflicts, the fragmentation of civil society, divided political camps, growing economic pressure, and environmental crises. Driven by headlines and sensationalist commentary, we rush from one outrage to the next. Quiet moments to pause and regain our bearings are increasingly rare. And amid all this, one demand keeps resurfacing: “Show solidarity!” But do we still know how…