How does the type of crisis influence the level of solidarity?: By looking at: pandemics, natural disasters, military attacks, climate change, technological backwardness, refugee inflows, high unemployment, and high debt.

This paper will evaluate the reasons behind different solidarity levels per type of crises. The crises that are examined are: epidemics, high debt, natural disasters, military attacks, climate change, technological backwardness, refugee inflows, and high unemployment. As soon as a crisis arises and solidarity manifests itself, it is important to look for the reasons behind the difference in levels of solidarity because, with such knowledge, the consequences of a regional crisis can be dealt with accordingly. The theoretical framework indicates that there are three main reasons for the diverse levels of solidarity per type of crisis: (1) need, (2) control, and (3) identity. The first variable refers to the urgency of the help necessary. For instance, in a natural disaster or a pandemic, immediate help is required, since there may be loss of lives. On the other hand, a technological backwardness crisis does not require urgent help. The second variable, control, refers to the remedy...Show moreThis paper will evaluate the reasons behind different solidarity levels per type of crises. The crises that are examined are: epidemics, high debt, natural disasters, military attacks, climate change, technological backwardness, refugee inflows, and high unemployment. As soon as a crisis arises and solidarity manifests itself, it is important to look for the reasons behind the difference in levels of solidarity because, with such knowledge, the consequences of a regional crisis can be dealt with accordingly. The theoretical framework indicates that there are three main reasons for the diverse levels of solidarity per type of crisis: (1) need, (2) control, and (3) identity. The first variable refers to the urgency of the help necessary. For instance, in a natural disaster or a pandemic, immediate help is required, since there may be loss of lives. On the other hand, a technological backwardness crisis does not require urgent help. The second variable, control, refers to the remedy that a country or individual can provide itself in a given situation. For instance, if an exogenous crisis occurs, such as a natural disaster, the occurrence is completely out of the hands of a given country. As the country can do little about this needy situation, people are inclined to feel more solidarity towards such a country. The third variable, identity, looks at the question whether you feel close to your inner circle and how broadly you define the inner circle. With the view of the European Union, this paper analyzed which people define their fellow EU-citizens as their inner circle. When performing a regression analysis, all three variables show a statistically significant effect on the willingness to help (solidarity).Show less

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How does the type of crisis influence the level of solidarity? By looking at: pandemics, natural disasters, military attacks, climate change, technological backwardness, refugee inflows, high unemployment, and high debt.