Emile Durkheim mechanical and organic solidarity

Solidarity, Mechanical and Organic - Anne M. Hornsby 

Extract: French sociologist Emile Durkheim (1858–1917) coined the terms mechanical and
organic solidarity to describe two types of social organization, that is, ways in which individuals
are connected to each other and how they identify with the groups and societies in which they
live.

Social solidarity is a state of unity or cohesion that exists when people are
integrated by strong social bonds and shared beliefs and also are regulated by
well-developed guidelines for action (values and norms that suggest worthy
goals and how people should attain them).

In The Division of Labor in Society (1893)

 Durkheim argued that social solidarity takes different forms in different historical periods
and varies in strength among groups in the same society.

 What is the definition of social solidarity?

In mechanical solidarity social cohesion and integration comes from the homogeneity

(togetherness) of individuals: People feel connected through similar work, educational and
religious training, and lifestyle, which is often based on the kinship ties of familial
networks.

 What type of society did Durkheim define as mechanical?

According to Durkheim, the types of social solidarity correlate with types of

society. Durkheim introduced the terms "mechanical" and "organic solidarity" as part of his
theory of the development of societies in The Division of Labour in Society (1893).

Mechanical and organic solidarity

1. In sociology, "mechanical solidarity" and "organic solidarity"refer to the concepts of
solidarity as developed by Émile Durkheim. They are used in the context of
differentiating between mechanical and organic societies.
 2. According to Durkheim, the types of social solidarity correlate with types of society.
Durkheim introduced the terms "mechanical" and "organic solidarity" as part of his
theory of the development of societies in The Division of Labour in Society (1893).

3. In a society exhibiting mechanical solidarity, its cohesion and integration comes from the
uniformity of individuals—people feel connected through similar work, educational and
religious training, and lifestyle. Mechanical solidarity normally operates in
"traditional" and small scale societies. In simpler societies (e.g., tribal),
solidarity is usually based on kinship ties of familial networks.

4. Organic solidarity comes from the interdependence that arises from specialization of
work and the complementarities between people—a development which occurs in
modern and industrial societies. Definition: it is social cohesion based upon the
dependence individuals have on each other in more advanced societies.
Although individuals perform different tasks and often have different
values and interests, the order and very solidarity of society depends on
their reliance on each other to perform their specified tasks. Organic
here is referring to the interdependence of the component parts. Thus,
social solidarity is maintained in more complex societies through the interdependence of
its component parts (e.g., farmers produce the food to feed the factory workers who
produce the tractors that allow the farmer to produce the food).

The two types of solidarity can be distinguished by morphological and demographic features,

type of norms in existence, and the intensity and content of the conscience collective.
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