State fragility and social cohesion (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1027)
This report examines literature from 2010 onwards
Abstract
Query
What is the current state of knowledge in the literature on state fragility regarding social cohesion as either a negative or positive factor? What are donor approaches to building social cohesion in fragile states?
Overview
This report reviews the relationship between social cohesion and state fragility – focussing on literature from 2010 onwards. The OECD definition and 2013 list of fragile states are used, although it is noted that there are varying definitions of fragility. Similarly, there are several definitions of social cohesion. The two strongest theories of social cohesion in the literature reviewed for this report draw on the Council of Europe’s (2004) definition of social cohesion as ‘the capacity of a society to ensure the welfare of all its members, minimising disparities and avoiding polarisation’, and Colletta and Cullen’s (2000) definition of it as ‘the nexus of vertical and horizontal social capital and the balance of bonding and bridging social capital’. Social capital has a separate and comprehensive literature of its own, but there is considerable overlap with social cohesion. Social capital also has a number of definitions, but which all converge on the idea of leveraging social networks: ‘networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit’ (Putnam, 1995). ‘Bonding’ capital refers to links within a group, and ‘bridging’ capital to links with other groups.
Citation
Browne, E. State fragility and social cohesion (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1027). Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK (2013) 12 pp.
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