Models of Social Cohesion Construction: Theoretical Reflections and Empirical Cases

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29038/2306-3971-2021-01-33-40

Keywords:

social cohesion, models of construction, terminal cohesion, instrumental cohesion, cohesion-in-action, cohesion-on-paper

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to developing models of social cohesion construction on the mesosocial level in the context of academic approach in studying this phenomenon. Basing on analysis of weaknesses of existing attempts to typologize social cohesion (made by O. Yarskaya-Smirnova and A. Green and J. Janmaat), the author offers his own classification of models for constructing this phenomenon, which is based on various "cores of cohesion", nominated as social cohesion formula. Author’s classification is presented by terminal cohesion (based on formula: around something/someone), simple instrumental cohesion in the form of positively instrumental and negatively instrumental (respectively: for something/someone and against something/someone) and complex instrumental cohesion based on the synthesis of previous formula (against something/someone for something/someone and for something/someone against something/someone).  It is proposed to consider the above models of social cohesion as cohesion-in-action or the actualized state of social cohesion, distinguishing also the state of "zero cohesion" as cohesion-on-paper. It is concluded that formula for social cohesion constructing are interrelated and internally dynamic, that makes possible to mix them and change each other. Emphasis is placed on the necessity to distinguish social capital and social cohesion, basing on author's presumption that social capital (as a special type of social relations) does not necessary lead to social cohesion construction (as well as social community formation does not guarantee social cohesion presence in contrast to social capital existence). It is highlighted that theoretical equating of social capital and social cohesion in the framework of academic research poses the existence of pseudo-cohesion.

References

Beauvais, C., Jenson, J. (2002). Social Cohesion: Updating the State of the Research. Ottawa: Canadian Policy Research Networks.

Berger-Schmitt, R. (2002). Considering social cohesion in quality of life assessments: Concept and measurement. Social Indicators Research, 58, 403–428. doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47513-8_18

Bernard, P. (1999). Social cohesion: A dialectical critique of a quasi-concept. Lien social et Politiques, 41, 47-59. doi.org/10.7202/005057ar

Bottoni, G. A. (2018). Multilevel Measurement Model of Social Cohesion. Social Indicators Research, 136 (3), 835-857. doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1470-7

Chan, J., To, H. and Chan, E. (2006). Reconsidering social cohesion: Developing a definition and analytical framework for empirical research. Social indicators research, 75(2), 273-302. doi.org/10.1007/s11205-005-2118-1

Council of Europe (2004). Revised Strategy for Social Cohesion. European Committee for Social Cohesion, Strasbourg.

Deineko, O.O. (2021). Social Cohesion in Decentralized Ukraine: From Old Practices to New Order. Studia Socjologiczne, 1 (240), 117–138. doi.org/10.24425/sts.2021.136281

Delhey, J., Boehnke, K., Dragolov, G., Zsófia, S Ignácz, Larsen M., Lorenz J. and Koch М. (2018). Social cohesion and its correlates: A comparison of Western and Asian societies. Comparative Sociology, 17 (3-4), 426-455. doi.org/10.1163/15691330-12341468

Fonseca, X., Lukosch, S., Brazier, F. (2019). Social Cohesion Revisited: a New Definition and How to Characterize It. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research. 32 (2), 231–253. doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2018.1497480

Giddens A. (1984). The Constitution Of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Green, A., Janmaat, J. (2011). Regimes of social cohesion: societies and the crisis of globalization. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke.

Iarskaia-Smirnova E. R., Yarskaya V. N. (2014). Social Cohesion: Directions of Theoretical Discussion and Perspectives for Social Policy. Retrieved May 28, 2021 from http://www.jourssa.ru/sites/all/files/volumes/2014_4/Iarskaya_Yarskaya_2014_4.pdf

Jeannotte, M. Sharon (2003). Social cohesion: Insights from Canadian research. Retrieved May 26, 2021 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228981786_Social_cohesion_Insights_from_Canadian_research

Jenson, Jane (2011). Defining and measuring social cohesion. Commonwealth Secretariat: UNRISD.

Kearns, A., Forrest, R. (2000). Social Cohesion and Multilevel Urban Governance. Urban Studies, 37 (5-6), 995-1017. doi.org/10.1080/00420980050011208

MacCracken, M. (1998). Social cohesion and macroeconomic performance. Retrieved May 23, 2021 from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.469.9884&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Schiefer, D. and Noll, J. van der. (2017). The Essentials of Social Cohesion: A Literature Review. Social Indicators Research. 132, 579-603. doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1314-5

Simmel, G. (1996). «Favorites. Contemplation of life». Mosсow: Jurist.

Putnam, R. (1993). Making Democracy Work. Civic Tradition in Modern Italy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Rajulton, F., Ravanera, Z. R. and Beaujot, R. (2007). Measuring social cohesion: An experiment using the Canadian national survey of giving, volunteering, and participating. Social Indicators Research, 80(3), 461-492. doi.org/10.1007/s11205-006-0011-1

Social Cohesion Radar: Measuring Common Ground. An International Comparison of Social Cohesion Methods Report. Retrieved May 01, 2021 from http://aei.pitt.edu/74134/1/Social_cohesion_radar.pdf

Published

29.06.2021

Issue

Section

METHODOLOGY AND METHODS OF SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH