What kind of solidarity is most prevalent in societies with a high degree of specialization?

Organic solidarity is a concept developed by sociologist Émile Durkheim to describe a type of social cohesion that emerges in complex, modern societies where there is a high degree of specialization and interdependence among individuals. In such societies, individuals perform specialized roles and tasks that contribute to the overall functioning of the community or society. This specialization means that people rely on each other to fulfill different roles, which creates a system of mutual dependence. Each individual’s contribution is vital to the health and stability of the entire social system, leading to a more intricate and diverse social structure.

In contrast, mechanical solidarity, which is more common in traditional, less differentiated societies, is characterized by a collective consciousness and shared beliefs. Here, individuals are more homogenous and perform similar tasks, resulting in a stronger collective bond that does not rely on the distinct specializations seen in more complex societies. Social cohesion is a broader term that refers to the bonds that unite people in a society, while regulated solidarity is not a widely recognized concept in sociology. Thus, organic solidarity is the most fitting choice for societies marked by high specialization, underscoring the connectedness among individuals based on their unique but interdependent contributions.