Reciprocity, justice and statutory health insurance in Germany

Abstract

It has often been claimed that modern societies are not only characterized by a growing social differentiation and individualization but also by a corresponding decline of solidarity and moral cohesion. Taking the thesis of a decline of solidaristic attitudes as a starting point and using the social (i.e. solidaristically financed) health insurance in Germany as an example, this article analyses whether `modern' solidaristic attitudes exist and which individual interests and value orientations explain the expressed acceptance of solidarity. Based on qualitative data material, the action orientations of the insured are analysed. It is found that the insured have indeed predominantly solidaristic attitudes and that they refer above all to notions of reciprocity and justice to explain their acceptance of the solidarity principle. This kind of data material does not allow a trend analysis concerning the `solidarity-decline-thesis'. Nevertheless the results are a contribution to a `grounded' explanation of the present `solidarity culture' in Germany.