Solidarity and social behaviour: how did this help communities to manage COVID-19 pandemic?
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Emerald Publishing Limited
Abstract
Description
Purpose – During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns, stay at home or work from home, many
have argued that the westernised non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) do not provide remedial in lowincome
countries like Nigeria, where informal job seekers, street traders, informal labourers and artisans
depend mainly on the informal economy. By applying social solidarity (SS) and community-based approach
(CBA), the authors evaluate individual acts (trust, altruism and reciprocity) during the lockdown and how these
practices evolve from individual approaches to collective actions.
Design/methodology/approach – This study reflects on pragmatism research paradigm that enables
researchers to maintain both subjectivity in their reflections and objectivity in data collection and analysis. The
authors adopt a qualitative method through purposeful and convenience sampling procedure. Data were
analysed thematically to identify elements of SS, individual acts, collective or community actions and
perceptions.
Findings – The findings reveal that COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact (lack of food and a fall in daily
income) on workers, informal job seekers, informal businesses operators and the poor households. As such, the
study developed a reflective model of solidarity exhibited by individual acts and collective acts (practices of
resource pooling, information sharing, women empowerment, distribution of palliatives and donations) within
trusted circles that helped people cope with the lockdown experiences.
Practical implications – Solidarity represents beliefs, practices of values and norms. The SS exhibited by
people through NPI would have implications on planning and monitoring the effectiveness of public health
programmes during a pandemic in the future.
Social implications – The findings of citizens and community actions have implications related to the
process of building communities – coming together – and solidarity that enhances social development with
implications on community health policy agenda during disasters, emergencies and health pandemic.
Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to analyse the relationship between trust, altruism,
reciprocity, SS and CBA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it seems reasonable to clarify the concept of SS
given the lack of clarity about the definitions from previous studies.
Keywords
H Social Sciences (General), HG Finance