Phraseologism "mutual responsibility" became popular thanks to the group "Nautilus Pompilius" and their song "Bound in one chain". And if there are no questions about the word "circular", then the meaning of the word "guarantee" is not so simple.
Meaning of the word "bail"
The term "bail" has several meanings. The first of them means a guarantee to someone, providing a guarantee, reliability, or as confirmation of something. So, Pushkin's Eugene Onegin in the novel of the same name writes to Tatyana: "Believe me (conscience is a guarantee), marriage will be torment for us." In this case, the word "guarantee" is used in the sense of a guarantee.
The second meaning of the obsolete word "guarantee" is a promise to do something with a guarantor. A vivid example of this is the Russian folk tale "The Cross of Bail". According to the plot of the tale, one merchant borrows money from another, and indicates as a guarantorcross on the church. In this case, the meaning of the word "guarantee" in the tale is used precisely as a guarantee to fulfill the promise, to return the money.
Another meaning of this term is the obligation to be responsible for someone. Even today, in colloquial speech, you can hear "bail", that is, to take care of someone.
Examples of usage
The meaning of the word "guarantee" in P. Ershov's fairy tale "The Little Humpbacked Horse" is used as a promise to fulfill what was said. The tsar, offering Ivan to serve in his stable, said: "The tsar's word is a guarantee."
Tatyana in her letter to Onegin writes the lines: "But your honor is my guarantee, And I boldly entrust myself to her." In a specific case, this term is used as a guarantee and confirmation of something.
The song "Bound in One Chain" also uses this word: "The mutual responsibility smears like soot…".
Cooperate
"Collateral responsibility" is the most used phrase today with this obsolete word. This term is used to emphasize that everyone is responsible for everyone, and everyone is responsible for everyone. The famous phrase "one for all and all for one" from Dumas' novel "The Three Musketeers" is the clearest example of mutual responsibility.
While the example of collective responsibility in a novel about the adventures of a young Gascon and his friends is positive, it is actually a rarity. As a rule, the phrase "mutual responsibility"used with a negative, disapproving connotation. This attitude to the term has developed historically for the following reasons.
The very phenomenon of mutual responsibility in Russia arose long ago, some historians argue that it can be seen in the agreement between Prince Oleg and the Greeks after their capitulation in the war of 907. However, this term was most widely used in the Middle Ages. In the XV-XVI centuries. the inhabitants of Russian communities were charged with the duty of eradicating and preventing offenses, and in the case when the culprit was not found, each member of the community was punished. A similar situation occurred if not enough taxes and taxes were collected - arrears were collected from each participant. The state actively supported mutual responsibility, and it was canceled only in 1903.
Today this phrase is used quite often, but in a slightly different context. This is what they say about lawbreakers who, out of fear of being prosecuted, cover for accomplices.
