Solidarity as an International Legal Norm

References to ‘solidarity’ pervade contemporary international legal discourse, yet it is unclear precisely how the notion of solidarity fits into the international legal system. More specifically, whether solidarity can be considered an international legal norm remains unsettled. The diversity of views makes it very difficult to determine the normative content and consequences of invocations of solidarity in international law. On one end of the spectrum, it could simply be that solidarity is a largely ornamental term or rhetorical device deployed in political discourse. On the other, it may be that solidarity imposes concrete and significant obligations on international actors in a range of circumstances. Against this backdrop, this chapter explores the normative classification of solidarity in the international legal system from a theoretical perspective. It does so on the basis of an explicitly elucidated understanding of the international legal system and its constituent norms, considering whether there are principles and rules of solidarity in international law. It is argued that there are principles of solidarity and that certain rules may be developed to strengthen the place and effects of solidarity in international law.