Inventing the Ties That Bind: Imagined Relationships in Moral and Political Life

Inventing the Ties that Bind questions the popular solution of talking to one another to heal political divisions, arguing that it is not the same as equality. Francesca Polletta studies how Americans cooperate outside of initiatives and shows that they often act on behalf of people they see as neighbors, not friends, as allies, not intimates, and people with whom they have an imagined relationship, not a real one. To repair our fractured civic landscape, we should draw on the rich language of solidarity that Americans already have.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 06 November 2020
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In the midst of profound political divisions, leaders have urged ordinary Americans to engage in meaningful conversations with one another, seeking to bridge the gaps that divide us. They advocate for sharing stories, demonstrating empathy, and emphasizing our commonalities rather than our differences. This approach, often referred to as "talking the way friends do," is seen as a potential remedy for healing our rifts. However, Francesca Polletta challenges this notion in her book Inventing the Ties that Bind. She argues that simply talking in the manner of friends is not sufficient to achieve equality. Initiatives that bring strangers together for friendly dialogue may provide fleeting moments of intimacy, but they fail to establish the enduring bonds of solidarity that are necessary for a cohesive society.

Yet, Polletta's research goes beyond these initiatives. She explores how Americans cooperate outside of structured settings, such as social movements, churches, unions, government, and in their daily lives. She reveals that often, individuals act on behalf of people they perceive as neighbors rather than friends, as allies rather than intimates, and as people with whom they have an imagined relationship rather than a genuine one.

In order to repair our fractured civic landscape, Polletta suggests that we should draw upon the rich language of solidarity that already exists within American society. She advocates for a more nuanced understanding of cooperation, one that recognizes the diverse forms it can take and the different roles that individuals play in building and sustaining social connections.

Polletta's book offers a valuable perspective on the challenges facing our society and provides insights into the ways in which we can work together to create a more inclusive and cohesive community. By embracing the language of solidarity and recognizing the importance of diverse forms of cooperation, we can build a stronger and more resilient society that is capable of addressing the complex challenges of our time.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226734200