Political solidarity: A theory and a measure

Abstract

Political solidarity is often key to addressing societal injustice. Yet social and political psychology are without a common definition or comprehensive measure of this construct, complicating advancements in this burgeoning field. To address these gaps, we advance a novel understanding and measure of this construct. We conceptualized political solidarity as a construct consisting of three factors—allyship with a minority outgroup, a connection to their cause, and a commitment to working with them to achieve social change—that can emerge within and across social groups. Five studies empirically supported our conceptualization and measure; all participants were Canadian university students. In Study 1, 1,594 participants completed the initial 30-item pool. A series of exploratory factor analyses, along with indices of factor retention, supported the three-factor model. We retained three items per factor to create the 9-item Political Solidarity Measure (PSM). This three-factor model adequately fit Study 2 data (N = 275). In Study 3 (N = 268), we found evidence of the PSM’s convergent and discriminant validity. Studies 3 and 4 assessed the PSM’s retest stability in the medium-term (three to six months; Study 3) and short-term (a three-week period; Study 4; N = 126). Finally, we demonstrate the PSM’s predictive validity in Study 5 (N = 221). Controlling for modern racism, political orientation, and gender, PSM scores predicted collective action intentions and behavior benefitting the outgroup: Participants who reported higher political solidarity donated more to the outgroup’s cause and were more likely to agree to create a message of support.

Intraminority solidarity: The role of critical consciousness

“…In the current article, we accept all these definitions of solidarity. In keeping with Neufeld, Starzyk, and Gaucher (2019), we view solidarity as a psychological state, rather than a process or outcome (Neufeld et al, 2019). In discussing intraminority solidarity, we refer to both attitudes and actions of a prosocial and coalitional nature.…”

“…Theories of collective action such as the social identity model of collective action (SIMCA;Van Zomeren, Postmes, & Spears, 2008) and politicized collective identity (Simon & Klandermans, 2001) are underutilized in research on intraminority relations. Collective action is itself a component of intraminority solidarity, which is represented by a broad array of actions and opinions (see Craig & Richeson, 2016;Neufeld et al, 2019). Furthermore, collective action literature specifically focuses on bringing together groups from different backgrounds, often in the intraminority context.…”

Negotiating identities and social representations through intergroup contact in a community solidarity initiative

“…Our findings have implications for the development of political solidarity between majority and minority group members (Greenwood, 2015; Neufeld, Starzyk, & Gaucher, 2008; Neufeld et al, 2019; Subašić et al, 2008). Political solidarity for majority group members includes collective action on behalf of minoritized groups and is associated with positive intergroup contact (Cakal et al, 2011; Reimer et al, 2017).…”

“…(Dimitri) Through this description of leveraging ingroup influence to raise awareness of DP, Dimitri directly challenged negative social representations of displaced people, for example the false belief that they get more money from the government than Irish people (Breen et al, 2006). His call to action, for 'we all' to inform others oriented to a shared group representation, in which there is a sense of 'common fate' between members (Neufeld et al, 2019).…”

“…Minoritized group members discursively negotiate their social identities in encounters with majority group members through strategies to maintain positive identification such as distancing from devalued social categories or affirming valued identities (Bradshaw & Muldoon, 2019; McKinlay & Vittie, 2009; Philogene, 2012; Potter, 2011; Potter & Wetherell, 1987). Identity construction in these encounters may have other strategic functions, such as to mobilize majority group influence and foster political solidarity with a minority cause (Neufeld, Starzyk, & Gaucher, 2019; Subašić, Reynolds & Turner, 2008). For example, White activists constructed a superordinate category of ‘Tulsans’ that encompasses both Black and White to evoke empathy and debunk arguments against reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre (Greenwood, 2015).…”