Taylor Swift fans exchange friendship bracelets before the concerts. Soccer aficionados get in the mood for the upcoming match by singing the club anthem. Office teams meet up for a coffee chat. "Regular routines in which everyone involved consciously focuses on the same thing reinforce emotions and create a sense of togetherness," explains sociologist Katharina Scherke. Whether it's the synchronised clapping rhythm in the stadium or the laying of flowers at the scene of an accident - the shared experience creates solidarity even among strangers. You feel in good hands. "It is therefore important for emerging social movements to invent new rituals in order to strengthen the community," concludes the researcher.
However, the power of ceremonies can also be used in a negative sense to stir up hatred and marginalise others. "This can be observed in election campaigns," explains Scherke. Populist politicians particularly like to emphasise their appearances with rituals in order to swear their supporters to a common cause.
Katharina Scherke will talk about the function of rituals from a sociological perspective on October 28 at 6 p.m. in the University of Graz auditorium as part of the symposium "Rituale - soziales Band und Fenster zum Sinn"
