  Following a novel approach, all known basic mass generation mechanisms
consistent with an exact abelian U(1) gauge symmetry are shown to be related
through an intricate network of dualities whatever the spacetime dimension.
This equivalence which applies in the absence of any supersymmetry, is however
restricted by the presence of topological terms generating possible topological
effects. In particular in 3+1 dimensions the duality relations between the
Maxwell-Higgs model, the Stueckelberg and the topological mass generation
mechanisms are then established following a careful treatment of the gauge
symmetry content. This result offers a new framework for an effective
description of superconductivity or topological defects built from fields
beyond the SM.
