Social solidarity as a fundamental mechanism of collective security thinking

Abstract

The relevance of social solidarity stems from the growing complexity of security challenges, which require not only institutional but also socially integrated response mechanisms. In contemporary conditions, security increasingly depends on society's ability to consolidate and coordinate actions and to develop a shared security vision. The objective of the article is to substantiate social solidarity as a fundamental mechanism for the formation of collective security thinking by identifying its structural components, analyzing its manifestations at different levels, and determining the mechanisms by which it transforms into collective security practices. The research methodological basis includes systemic, structural-functional, and analytical-synthetic approaches, which enable a comprehensive examination of the interrelations among the components of social solidarity, levels of social interaction, and forms of security behavior. Results. The study systematizes the structural components of social solidarity (cognitive, value-based, behavioral, and institutional), which form the foundation of collective security thinking. The relationship between the levels of social solidarity and types of security practices is established, manifested in the transition from individual, reactive strategies to collective, strategic models of response. The mechanism of transforming social solidarity into collective security thinking is substantiated as a sequential and cyclical process encompassing the development of trust, alignment of values, communication processes, coordination of actions, and the institutionalization of shared experience. Conclusions. Social solidarity performs both integrative and transformative functions in ensuring security, acting as a key prerequisite for the formation of coordinated models of collective behavior. It is proven that its effectiveness depends not only on the presence of individual components but also on the level of their interaction and coherence within the social system. The obtained results can be applied to improve approaches to developing security strategies at different levels of social organization, as well as to design policies aimed at strengthening social cohesion and societal resilience to contemporary challenges.