We are in the presence of history: a global conflict of sorts that our grandkids will learn about in school. This “conflict” against COVID-19 has got me thinking, and one question, inspired by a group’s reading of Malešević’s The Sociology of War and Violence has stuck:
“Have New Zealand youth lost a sense of community because we have not experienced the hardships of a large-scale civil or global war in our lifetime? How would we change if we were to experience a world war?”
Who knew that just weeks after this conversation our entire nation would be thrown into turmoil, and this very question tested by our response?
Durkheim (a “founding father” of sociology) argues that as all members of society work towards a 
common goal, as in times of conflict, a sense of solidarity is created, as each is focussed on the end more than on oneself. But is the “hardship” of physical distancing required to resist our enemy driving us further into individualistic bubbles or ironically producing closer communities? Is this the conflict we need for a greater sense of youth community in New Zealand?
Though the act of socially isolating is an altruistic one, even if enforced, I know in my case, being cooped up in a “bubble” can create a greater focus on self. Even in allowed “social” settings, it can be difficult to stay fully invested in conversation through a screen. Really, can the sense of community bolstered by Zoom chats, messaging, and FaceTimes – or even teddy bears in the window and chalk drawings on the footpath – achieve the solidarity that conventional war could?
Will the chats we share on Messenger create friendships that will last longer than our boredom in lockdown? Will these offers to be helpful and spread joy persist outside of crisis? To tell the truth, unless these connections are supported by time outside of self-isolation, I doubt it.
What I am seeing now, with neighbours dropping off food for one another, getting contact details for the first time since they’ve moved in, and writing messages on the footpath for pedestrians to be encouraged by, is all beautiful and is growing a sense of community, but this cannot stop here. This encouragement, thoughtfulness, and connection do not just belong in crisis; they belong in our everyday, fostering the positive peace we need for greater resilience.
In this lockdown and beyond it, I dare to argue that our sense of community as youth and as people doesn’t need to rely on conflict to be strong. In this situation, however, may we bring out a sense of community that will continue to increase, not peter out anticlimactically. May we be the ones to foster community where we are by choosing to be encouraging and friendly, and choosing to see a need and help meet it where we can. May we begin to value the connections that we do have, that New Zealand as we know it would become an even more positively peaceful place.
I like to draw a line between conflict and war. War is a type of conflict between two groups of humans. Granted, this crisis is no war, but we are in conflict with coronavirus. The ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality helps to breed a community identity, even if in this case the ‘Them’ is really an ‘It’.
If it was only you in isolation and you knew your friends were off hanging out in freedom, you would rightly feel distant. As it is, the distance between everyone is a shared problem, which might be some consolation to all of us who feel alone.
The argument that we would be as kind in simpler times is quite plausible. I’ve heard people say that hard times makes everyone selfish, and just as often that it makes people generous to each other: could it be that hard times make more prominent both our morality and our lack of morality equally? If so, kindness in crises is the result of kind people, whether or not there’s a crisis.
I agree, there definitely is a line between conflict and war – something I would have liked to unpack more had there not been a word limit. It is certainly interesting, though, to see that this “us vs ‘it'” mentality, as you put it, and the fact that we are all separated by distance, not just a few of us, could contribute to a community identity. This lockdown has definitely had implications on the way that people relate to each other, and I suppose even the existence of it has become a conversation starter and topic for neighbours and friends to get talking/messaging.
What an interesting thought about hard times making more prominent both our morality and lack of morality! I suppose, as I’ve heard it said, crises can bring out the best or the worst in us – it’s our choice which. In terms of kindness in communities, maybe it’s just the fact that we’re stuck in our bubbles and walking around our neighbourhoods is the only outing for those who aren’t essential workers, but I think this kindness has become more visible. Kindness in crises may well just be the result of kind people, whether or not there is a crises, but I think crises, especially being in lockdown, might just give people the space and time, or the desire, to notice it.
A very interesting read about if this ‘conflict’ against COVID-19 is the glue that binds us all closer together in the future, and whether that will have the same effect on every demographic (specifically focusing on youth). In particular, I appreciate your point about the importance of social interaction face-to-face in order to reinforce connections made online.
An interesting observation to make on this point would be how youth reacts to the idea of social distancing once the lockdown ends, as I can certainly imagine that the medical advice will be to continue such practices until a vaccine is developed. There are many different facets that could make up youth response – are we likely to see a decrease in youth relationships in the classic process of GF/BF (or whatever terms are preferred)->engaged->married? Could this be the catalyst for a shift towards more temporary relationship based primarily off online contact, instead of mainly physical interaction?
Furthermore, is our new extreme dependence on the internet the cause of a more global consciousness among youth? While it’s clear that youth have (in the last decade) made up a significant proportion of the users of the internet (UN, 2011), given that schools and universities are either out or taking place online, I would not be surprised if we see even stronger numbers of youth membership to sites like Reddit, Tumblr, Youtube and equivalents – all bringing their own problems of representation and exposure to questionable materials.
So many questions, so little time!
So many questions indeed! I think it would definitely be interesting to see how youth react to the idea of social distancing after the lockdown has ended. I noticed in my hall when social distancing became obligatory that many were continuing to sit next to each other at dinner or pack a room full of people, and after the lockdown has ended, I can imagine that this will continue to be the case, though it will be interesting to see if not. I guess the thing about social distancing is that it’s as much up to the people you are nearby as it’s up to you, so if one person insists on standing next to you or giving you a high five, it’s hard to move away constantly, especially when these used to be such normal things to do.
The question of whether temporary, mainly online relationships over ones in person will become more prevalent is also such a fascinating question! Youth certainly are dependent on the internet, and I think there definitely has been a move to communicating online more, though with this being our only form of communication during this lockdown period and likely beyond, I can imagine that would certainly become a phenomenon. – how different to the times of our parents and grandparents!
COVID-19 is certainly bringing out the big questions!