On the globalization of the idea of solidarity

Solidarność in Poland was not merely a revolt against communism or a move towards capitalism but a Popular Movement advocating for a moral society centred on human community. However, subsequent developments in Poland and Europe have overshadowed this goal, replacing it with the extension of consumerist West European culture to former communist states. The vision of a moral society critiques both communism and unbridled capitalism, suggesting the failure of communism marks not the end of history but the start of a search for more humane ways of life. Today’s dominant social structures face multiple crises: COVID-19, environmental degradation, globalisation, and the erosion of workers’ rights. Addressing these requires global governance and, more importantly, a shift in self-awareness—from individualistic and narcissistic to personalistic and communitarian. We must regain the sense of being a communitarian subject, respecting objective laws for the common good. This represents the globalisation of solidarity’s ethos.