Remedies

In our society, individualism therefore strongly marks the relationship with others; it seems that the natural need for exchange and sharing has been pushed aside. Transaction has taken precedence over relationship. The remedies to this situation could be found in the revaluation of human relationships.

Intergenerational family solidarity and neighborhood solidarities, foundations of social life, have gradually been replaced by a collective and institutional solidarity, of course indispensable, but unable to meet all needs. Remedies to improve this complex solidarity require a more human approach.

Yes, it’s true but this trend tends to reverse. 

Separated parents from their families seek seniors acting as grandparents for their own children who in return thus fill a certain loneliness. Senior host-hosters offer a rental in exchange for service or housing in exchange for service to supportive student cohabitants. An individual lends their chainsaw in exchange for another tool. Who hasn’t practiced carpooling yet?
I’m not saying that individualism disappears, no it still exists but is built differently. Following industrialization, a selfish and withdrawn individualism developed which generated loneliness and a segregative attitude. Today, a positive individualism has been born where the autonomous person creates elective social relationships.

This notion of exchange and sharing even tends to amplify and the title of Anna Gavalda’s bestseller Together, that’s all! has a strong resonance. We talk about "sharing economy", "collaborative" or even "participative". It is about preferring the functionality or use of a good to its possession. To quote Anna one last time, "What prevents people from living together is their stupidity, not their differences..."