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Solidarity and social behaviour: how did this help communities to manage COVID-19 pandemic?

Paul Agu Igwe (Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK)
Chinedu Ochinanwata (Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK)
Nonso Ochinanwata (Research and Training, African Development Institute of Research Methodology, Enugu, Nigeria)
Jonathan Olufemi Adeyeye (Business Administration, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Nigeria)
Isaac Monday Ikpor (Accountancy, Banking and Finance, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Nigeria)
Sanita Ekwutosi Nwakpu (Mass Communication, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Abakaliki, Nigeria)
Obiamaka P. Egbo (Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Enugu, Nigeria)
Ike E. Onyishi (Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria)
Olusegun Vincent (Management and Social Sciences, Pan-Atlantic University, Victoria Island, Nigeria)
Kenneth Chukwuma Nwekpa (Business management and Entrepreneurship Studies, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria)
Kingsley Onuoha Nwakpu (Department of Medical Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria)
Ayodeji Adeyinka Adeoye (Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria)
Precious Onyinyechi Odika (Geological Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria)
Henrietta Fakah (Management Studies, Plateau State University, Bokkos, Nigeria)
Olaleke Oluseye Ogunnaike (Department of Business Management, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria)
Evelyn Iyose Umemezia (Business Administration, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria)

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy

ISSN: 0144-333X

Article publication date: 3 November 2020

Issue publication date: 2 December 2020

2414

Abstract

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 low-income 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

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the management of African Development Institute of Research Methodology (ADIRM), Independence Layout, Enugu, Nigeria for sponsoring this research.

Also, the authors are grateful to the three anonymous reviewers and the editor for their recommendations and helpful feedback that led to the development of this article.

Citation

Igwe, P.A., Ochinanwata, C., Ochinanwata, N., Adeyeye, J.O., Ikpor, I.M., Nwakpu, S.E., Egbo, O.P., Onyishi, I.E., Vincent, O., Nwekpa, K.C., Nwakpu, K.O., Adeoye, A.A., Odika, P.O., Fakah, H., Ogunnaike, O.O. and Umemezia, E.I. (2020), "Solidarity and social behaviour: how did this help communities to manage COVID-19 pandemic?", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 40 No. 9/10, pp. 1183-1200. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0276

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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