Social Cohesion

What is social cohesion?
As a concept, social cohesion has a long tradition in academic enquiry. It is of fundamental importance when discussing the role of consensus and conflict in society. From the mid‐1990s, interest in the dynamics of social cohesion grew amid concerns prompted by the impact of globalisation, economic change and fears fuelled by the ‘war on terror’. There is, however, no agreed definition of social cohesion. Most current definitions dwell on intangibles, such as sense of belonging, attachment to the group, willingness to participate and to share outcomes. They include three common elements: Shared vision: Most researchers maintain that social cohesion requires universal values, mutual respect and common aspirations or identity shared by their members.
A property of a group or community: Social cohesion tends to describe a well‐functioning core group or community in which there are shared goals and responsibilities and a readiness to cooperate with the other members.
A process: Social cohesion is generally viewed not simply as an outcome, but as a continuous and seemingly never‐ending process of achieving social harmony.
Differences in definition concern the factors that enhance (and erode) the process of communal harmony, and the relative weight attached to the operation of specific factors. The key factors are:
Economic: Levels of unemployment and poverty, income distribution, population mobility, health, life satisfaction and sense of security, and government responsiveness to issues of poverty and disadvantage.
Political: Levels of political participation and social involvement, including the extent of voluntarism, the development of social capital, understood in terms of networks, norms and social trust that facilitate coordination and co‐operation for mutual benefit.
Socio‐cultural: Levels of consensus and divergence (homogeneity and heterogeneity) on issues of local and national significance.

The present survey has adopted an eclectic, wideranging approach, influenced by the work of social scientists Jane Jenson and Paul Bernard, to incorporate five domains:
Belonging: Shared values, identification with Australia, trust.
Social justice and equity: Evaluation of national policies.
Participation: Voluntary work, political and cooperative involvement.
Acceptance and rejection, legitimacy: Experience of discrimination, attitudes towards minorities and newcomers.
Worth: Life satisfaction and happiness, future expectations./.../