Commun Social Imaginary: Italy vs. Lebanon

Cornelius Castoriadis, a Franco-Greek philosopher and psychoanalyst, developed the concept of the social imaginary, the set of shared meanings, values, and representations that structure a society and shape its worldview. The collective imaginary acts as an invisible force that unites members of a community, offering them a shared cultural foundation. Applying this idea to evaluate cultures or countries most attached to their imaginary raises a key question: what criteria can measure the strength of this rootedness?

Criteria for a Strong Collective Imaginary

Several criteria can help identify countries where the collective imaginary is particularly powerful:

1. Resilience to immigration: In some countries, even amid economic or political hardships, people remain deeply attached to their homeland and resist leaving. Those who emigrate, by necessity or choice, often retain a strong symbolic and emotional bond with their place of origin.

2. Return to the homeland after emigration: Certain diasporas maintain a strong desire to return "home," whether for retirement or to reconnect with their roots. This reflects a visceral attachment to their native land.

3. Maintaining a primary residence: In cultures with a strong collective imaginary, even citizens working abroad strive to keep their primary residence in their home country as a symbol of belonging.

4. Low rate of nationality change: In these cultures, national identity is highly valued and often seen as non-negotiable, reflecting unwavering loyalty to their collective imaginary.

5. Intergenerational transmission of language and culture:Deeply rooted cultures work hard to pass on their traditions, language, and values to future generations, even in the context of exile.

6. Investment and construction in the homeland: Members of the diaspora demonstrate their attachment by building homes, funding infrastructure, or investing in local businesses.

Italy: An Imaginary Rooted in Everyday Life

Italy exemplifies a country with a particularly strong collective imaginary. Italians are deeply attached to their lifestyle, cuisine, local traditions, and family bonds. Even those who leave the country for work remain connected to their origins. Prominent Italian figures—whether in sports, arts, or economics—often reside in Italy, reinforcing the idea that national identity is inseparable from the territory.

This attachment is also evident in the Italian diaspora, which remains active in transmitting its language and culture. Italian neighborhoods worldwide reflect this desire to recreate the collective imaginary even outside the homeland.

Lebanon: A Paradox of Attachment

Lebanon offers a complex and paradoxical example. While Lebanese people are often forced to emigrate due to political or economic crises, they maintain deep ties to their homeland. The Lebanese diaspora, one of the largest globally, demonstrates practices reflecting a strong collective imaginary: building homes in Lebanon, sending remittances to family, and preserving their language and traditions.

However, Lebanon is marked by a fascinating paradox: despite this attachment, the country struggles to rebuild itself. The attachment of Lebanese people to festive and cultural activities in cities like Beirut often appears disconnected from the country’s socio-economic reality. This contrast raises a critical question: can a strong collective imaginary exist without being transformed into a sustainable political project?

Collective Imaginary and Modernity: Toward Reconciliation?

The examples of Italy and Lebanon show that attachment to a collective imaginary can manifest in different ways. While Italy illustrates continuity between daily practices, territory, and cultural transmission, Lebanon highlights a disconnection between symbolic attachment and socio-political realities.

In a globalized world, where identities are often fragmented, these criteria allow us to question the strength of collective imaginaries and their capacity to endure. Countries and cultures capable of uniting tradition and modernity while maintaining a deep connection to their imaginary may offer the most sustainable model of belonging.