Publications
- How Did the 2008 Economic Crisis Affect Social and Political Solidarity in Europe?
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- by Hochschild, Jennifer L.
- One possible outcome of the
economic crash of 2008 was that the majority or mainstream members of a society
would direct their anger and fear against the minority or marginal members of
their society. Commentators on
television or the radio would claim, “it’s all the fault of the immigrants!” or
“if we didn’t hand over so much of our tax dollars to the poor, the economy
would not have deteriorated so much,” or “social benefits to African Americans
[or German Turks] have distorted the housing market.” Citizens would come to believe these assertions,
politicians would echo them—and the upshot would be not only a deteriorating
national and international economy but also increased hostility and fear among
racial, ethnic, or nationality groups in a country. Social solidarity would decline, perhaps
irrevocably.
- Publication Type: WCFIA Working Paper
- Published Date:
- Field of Interest: International Relations
- Hochschild, Jennifer L. "How Did the 2008 Economic Crisis Affect Social and Political Solidarity in Europe?" Working Paper 2010-0004, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, January 2010.
