International Solidarity: Principles, Challenges, and Pathways to a Shared Future

This article examines the concept of international solidarity, emphasising its significance in both historical and contemporary contexts. Notable movements such as Palestine solidarity movement, the global workers’ movement and the Anti-Apartheid Movement illustrate how individuals and communities across borders unite to challenge injustice. Despite its historical importance, international solidarity remains under-researched. This article provides a critical synthesis of the literature and highlights the need for deeper engagement with its dynamics. It argues that (international) solidarity is a dynamic, multidimensional concept whose changing meanings across time, place, and politics shape collective action and social alliances. Moreover, it asserts that international solidarity should be understood not as a derivative outcome or an extension of domestic or transnational solidarity, but as a distinct, evolving, and politically charged sociological concept. The article begins by exploring the concept of solidarity, tracing definitions, key features, and historical development through disciplines such as sociology, politics, and philosophy, including insights from thinkers like Durkheim and Marx. It then distinguishes international from domestic solidarity, highlighting its characteristics including its transnational and cross border scope, as well as emphasis on interdependence and power dynamics. Finally, the article addresses challenges such as national interests and cultural differences while considering hope as a bridge for international solidarity, linking diverse movements and histories in a common struggle for justice.