The Covid-19 Pandemic and Societal Challenges to Solidarity and Social Justice: Consequences for Vulnerable Groups

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic raises important challenges for solidarity and social justice. Not all social groups are equally affected by the COVID-19 virus, or the measures taken to curb its’ spread. In this chapter, we discuss how social groups differ in the risks they face during the pandemic and outline the most important factors that contribute to these inequalities. Notably, socio-economically disadvantaged groups run higher risks of contracting the virus and are, on average, more negatively impacted by COVID-19 counter measures. Subsequently, we introduce two important societal challenges posed by the pandemic – intergenerational and global solidarity respectively – and discuss the social justice questions these challenges evoke. How societies rise to these new challenges for solidarity and social justice will be crucial for our future.