Principles of Group Solidarity

Social scientists have long recognized that solidarity is essential for such phenomena as social order, class, and ethnic consciousness, and the provision of collective goods. In presenting a new general theory of group solidarity, Michael Hechter here contends that it is indeed possible to build a theory of solidarity based on the action of rational individuals and in doing so he goes beyond the timeworn disciplinary boundaries separating the various social sciences.

Michael Hechter is Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona.

Tables and Figures 
Preface 

I. Introduction 
II. The Problem 
    Sociological Approaches to Group Solidarity 
    Rational Choice Approaches to Group Solidarity 
III. A Theory of Group Solidarity 
    The Extensiveness of Corporate Obligations 
    The Probability of Compliance 
IV. The Necessity of Formal Controls 
    Prosocial Motivations 
    Gaming Strategies Among Rational Egoists 
V. Dependence and Party Solidarity 
    Legislators' Dependence on the Party for Re-Election 
    Legislators' Dependence on the Party for Patronage 
VI. The Production of Formal Controls 
    Rotating Credit Associations 
    Insurance Groups 
    By-Products of Insurance Groups 
VII. The Limits of Compensation in Capitalist Firms 
    Costs of Input Assessment 
    Costs of Output Assessment 
    The Internal Labor Market as a Quasi-Obligatory Group 
VIII. Economizing on Control Costs in Intentional Communities 
    Monitoring Economies 
    Sanctioning Economies 
IX. Conclusion 
    Markets and Groups 
    The Family 
    Class and Status Solidarity 
    Solidarity in the National Society 
    
Bibliography 
Index