Social Solidarity and the Division of Labor: Durkheim

Social Solidarity and the Division of Labor
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Social Solidarity and the Division of Labor
Emile Durkheim defines social solidarity as the cohesion between people in society, which facilitates stability and social order. In other words, individuals’ interdependence in society makes them feel like they can improve others’ lives. Social solidarity also entails taking care of the interests and needs of underprivileged communities. Durkheim illustrates the division of labor, which refers to the establishment of jobs for certain individuals. In that light, when people work together they improve their skills and productivity, creating a feeling of solidarity among them. The paper focuses on Durkheim’s concepts of social solidarity and the division of labor.
Durkheim’s Thesis on Social Solidarity in Different Types of Societies
Durkheim argues that there can be no society created in the notion of individualism. Social solidarity must be there for society to function effectively (Khairulyadi, Ikramatoun, & Nisa, 2022). Based on him, social solidarity contributes to the formation of different types of societies. Durkheim asserts that the type of social solidarity differs depending on the type of society, namely organic and mechanical. Social solidarity in a mechanical society enhances the integration and cohesion that comes from individuals’ homogeneity. In this type of society, people are connected via similar education, work, age, religion, lifestyle, and gender. For example, individuals undertaking the same work feel connected since they usually face similar things and have undergone through the same training. In other terms, mechanical solidarity operates in small-scale and traditional societies. The social solidarity in these simpler societies is based on familial networks and kinship. Solidarity usually arises when people relate well to each other, leading to a mutual agreement that makes individuals committed to one another and focused on achieving the set objectives (Umanailo et al., 2019). As such, solidarity fosters the feeling of togetherness and ownership of a specific group.
On the contrary, social solidarity works differently in an organic society. Organic solidarity refers to the social cohesion that is based on the interdependence that emanates from individuals’ complementarianism and work specialization. For instance, industrialization in modern societies has led to the subdivision of labor. Some people work as accountants, human resource managers, casual workers, and executives. The division of labor enables individuals to be hired based on their skills and knowledge. In an organic society, people’s roles create interdependence in such a way that individuals depend on and need each other (Wandi, Afnita, & Hefni, 2021). Despite individuals undertaking distinctive tasks in an organic society, social solidarity is based on the reliance on each person to perform assigned tasks. Such complex societies maintain social solidarity through individuals’ interdependence to undertake different tasks. For example, automotive industries manufacture tractors that are ...