Intergenerational solidarity and empathy at United Nations HQ
On 15th May 2023 I was invited to attend International Day of Families at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. I was tasked with sharing some thoughts on intergenerational empathy and solidarity. Here are some of those thoughts..
introduction
Hi everyone, my name is Nathan Wiltshire, I am a researcher at Yale University and Australian National University. My current work looks at the role of culture and interpersonal relationships – particularly, group or community level (i.e. solidarity) and interpersonal or familial level (i.e. empathy). I undertake empirical and action-orientated research in solidarity, empathy, and efficacy towards sustainable development in marginalised populations in India, Japan, and Australia.
Framing solidarity & empathy
Solidarity to be an outcome of group-level communication and interaction - such as through ritual - that leads to identification with values and norms, connection to and social integration in a community or defined ‘group’ membership - collective consciousness and a sense of collective we-ness. In the context of families, elements of solidarity include respect, shared ‘group’, pro-sociality, while a Durkheimian ritual orientated conceptualisation leads one to consider - how to elevate intra-familial ritualised connections?
In terms of empathy, I see this as a form of inter-personal communication and relationship characterized by emotional connection and perspective taking seeking to understand another’s viewpoints towards a particular situation, event, or topic. This requires self-other differentiation to move beyond generalised group-level understanding - towards personalised perspectives. These two constructs can work hand-in hand – one can support the other – depending on the situation and social dynamics. However, this order is not linear, fixed or certain i.e. one does not necessarily lead to the other.
SOLIDARITY & CULTURAL CAPITAL
Solidarity encapsulates shared values, norms, beliefs, ritual participation, that engenders collective consciousness, collective we-ness, shared identity – are these lost somewhere in the (neo-liberal) focus on economic productivity. Particularly, when this goes contrary to the interdependence cultures with strong filial foundations (particularly outside of ‘western’ cultures). Instead, is there more than can be done to foster cultural and social capital – and to elevate these within our societies? And if so, how might we go about fostering cultural capital between generations?
In my opinion, this requires a dynamic and multifaceted approach that is responsive to cultural diversity. For example, international solidarity inside and outside the family was studied by Jiménez-Roger & Sánchez, 2023 who found; “in countries considered to have a high degree of familialism, such as Spain, care-giving between generations has traditionally been associated with the family setting” - both physical, or instrumental, support between generations which is influenced by geographical proximity, and emotional support which depends upon the possibilities for contact, are linked to these societies’ family norms and obligations.
Meanwhile, there are other factors that have been found to influence inter-generational relationships. For example, economic equity. A study by Van der Werfhorst & Salverda (2012) found “support for the view that inequality can magnify not only the differences between individuals or households in the resources at their disposal, but also the association between these resources and politics, well-being and social stratification”. Meanwhile, Silverstein (2012) found that capital incentives on family dynamics suggested intergenerational relationships were influenced by both economic and social relationships. Their concept of “moral capital” (p. 1251), an analog to filial obligation, correlated positively with engagement between adult–children and their mothers. When parents invested in the cultivation of moral capital their children were more likely to provide future support to their mothers.
Given that solidarity is centred on values, norms, and beliefs, perhaps we are valuing the wrong thing if we want to foster inter-generational solidarity – or at least putting too much weight on economics and not enough on social and cultural elements. Tanaka and Johnson (2021) provided an interesting case in rural Japan, which highlights the social, cultural, spiritual roles of older generations in society – and in families – embodying values, beliefs – passing on traditions, family identity. Meanwhile, getting older means shifting identities – this is fragile for many, when entire lives are constructed around ‘work’ – again neo-liberal ideals.
Comments for the panel
Is there too much focus on neo-liberal ideals of ‘ageing’ i.e. productivity, economic contributions, etc? Cultural ‘capital’? It may be crucial when considering interdependence cultures. So too respect and social equity, over the life course.
Generational thinking tends to be structural, functional, hierarchical, which leads me to consider - how do we dissolve those boundaries? That to me if central to promoting widespread solidarity across generations. Meanwhile, it is possible that we need to account for differences and similarities across ‘generations’. This would ideally promote foundational human experiences e.g. hopes, dreams, fears, aspirations – more cultural human-to-human connections. Lastly, are intergenerational economic equity and solidarity positively causally correlated – in that it requires both to go up? If one is going down then the other is likely to reduce?
