Crisis and Social Solidarity in Divided Societies

• In Event: Non-state Welfare and Identity in the Global South

Abstract

What are the bounds of solidarity in times of society-wide crisis and scarcity? Do people demonstrate general altruism that prioritizes meeting the needs of the most vulnerable or does their pro-sociality extend only as far as their own immediate communities? Particularly in societies divided by politically salient ethnic, racial, or religious cleavages, it is often presumed that a communitarian response—circling the proverbial wagons and prioritizing in-group members in the distribution of scarce resources—prevails over a generally altruistic response. To explore these questions, we conducted a survey experiment in Lebanon in summer 2022, at the height of the country’s economic collapse and with the ongoing threat of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, essential medicines such as antibiotics were scarce throughout the country, generating public debate about who should have priority access to medications. In our forced choice experiment, which resembles a conjoint experiment but contains only one profile at a time to be rated, the survey’s 1200 respondents viewed three randomly generated fictional profiles of fellow citizens. Each profile included a male name, neighborhood of residence – a subtle yet locally valid way to cue sect, health condition, age, and social class. After each profile, the respondent was then asked if the hypothetical person should receive priority access to antibiotics and Covid-19 vaccines. Our preliminary results indicate that, on average, people prioritize access to medications for at-risk populations who need them most – the sick and the elderly. At the same time, in-group favoritism occurs, but only for those on the margin of need—for whom a case could be made but who are not obviously the most vulnerable members of society. By summer 2022, Covax-donated vaccines had become widely available and were no longer scarce despite the economic collapse befalling Lebanon. With respect to Covid vaccines, our results indicate similar pro-social behavior, however, in this case, the results are largely driven by respondents’ preexisting attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccines. Overall, the results suggest that in contexts of acute society-wide crisis and dire need, people demonstrate high levels of social solidarity and altruism. When needs are less urgent and the crisis less severe, in-group favoritism shapes preferences about the distribution of scarce resources.

Authors

• Amanda Rizkallah, Pepperdine University

• Melani Cammett, Harvard University

• Rochelle Sun, Harvard University