DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Solidarity is by definition the union or unity formed by the common interests, objectives, and purposes that bind a group of individuals together. Most often solidarity is discussed as it relates to the solidarity that members of a specific group share: the solidarity members of single or multiple labor unions feel for each other; solidarity among LGBTQ people; solidarity based on political position or party; national solidarity; and so on.

 

When solidarity is achieved across a multiplicity of interests and concerns that share commonalities, coalitions of strength form and change happens on a larger scale. Consider for example how the civil rights movement informed the antiwar and women’s liberation movements of the 1960s and the overall effect that web of action had on US society. The principles of solidarity demonstrate that it is critically important that justice-seeking beings who will not stand for oppression must build and serve specific movements or power bases, which are intended to disseminate information and carry out action to eliminate specific acts of oppression: e.g. Women must work together to improve conditions for women; Blacks must organize to end racialized discrimination; an LGBTQ community must ensure that their legal rights continue to move forward. Yet, if we consider political and economic power that is the motivation behind prevailing hegemonic oppression, the correlating need to build coalitions of resistance that serve diverse interests (in addition to work that serves our individual bases) becomes evident. Men must stand in solidarity with women to stop violence against women; whites must demonstrate solidarity with blacks to end racism; heterosexual couples must be in solidarity with same sex couples to change the laws. Coalitions of solidarity can effect the kind of change that moves beyond a token acquiescence, and becomes real change that permeates society.

 

Solidarity studies is a nascent interdisciplinary program involving the study of social justice movements, coalitions of action, and solidarity as they relate to justice and activism. Solidarity studies draws on traditional disciplines, including: history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, psychology, literature, language, and art. Perhaps more importantly, solidarity studies draws heavily on the work of pioneering interdisciplinary programs that have a commitment to justice, such as women’s studies and queer or gender studies; labor studies and working-class studies; and justice and peace studies.

 

There are three criteria central to earning the Master of Arts degree in Prescott College’s solidarity studies program:

  • the program will cover a history of social change movements;
  • the study will consider solidarity and coalitions among individuals, organizations, and causes; and
  • the thesis will provide a practical proposal for social change that relies on solidarity.

Beyond these three criteria and the regular graduation requirements of the limited-residency Master of Arts Program, the solidarity studies program design retains significant flexibility. Degree concentrations in the solidarity studies program can be designed based on the student's chosen focus for the research. A student may choose to center her program on solidarity studies, or something more specific to the area of solidarity researched, including peace and justice studies; social ecology; women’s studies; labor studies; education for change; etc.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.