Definition :
Social cohesion refers to the extent of connectedness and solidarity among groups in society. It identifies two main dimensions: the sense of belonging of a community and the relationships among members within the community itself. It stems from a democratic effort to establish social balance, economic dynamism, and national identity, with the goals of founding a system of equity, sustaining the impulses of uncontrolled economic growth, and avoiding social fractures.
Social cohesion is a social process which aims to consolidate plurality of citizenship by reducing inequality and socioeconomic disparities and fractures in the society. It reflects people’s needs for both personal development and a sense of belonging and links together individual freedom and social justice, economic efficiency and the fair sharing of resources, and pluralism and common rules for resolving all conflicts.
Major research in social cohesion starts with Le Bon with the theory of collective behaviour and contagion (Le Bon 1897). He distinguishes different types of crowds/communities, and that these have a multiplicity of characteristics, opinions and beliefs that impact the individuals in a crowd.
In 1897, Durkheim defines social cohesion as a characteristic of society that shows the interdependence in between individuals of that society (Berkman and Kawachi 2000), and coins to social cohesion (1) the absence of latent social conflict (any conflict based on for e.g. wealth, ethnicity, race, and gender) and (2) the presence of strong social bonds (e.g. civic society, responsive democracy, and impartial law enforcement) (Durkheim 1897)
Potential social conflict in China, about gender.
Cooley presents in 1909 the idea of primary groups, as groups having intimate face-to-face communications, dynamics of cooperation and conflict in between elements, and high numbers of friendships stemming from a substantial time spent together, which, when absent, can foster social disorganization (Cooley 1909).
In 1921, Freud supports Le Bon’s opinion about the unconscious identification of individuals, and defines social cohesion as the identification of one individual with others that share the same characteristics and provide intense emotional ties (Freud 1921).
Lewin defines a group as a dynamic whole with its own size, organization, and intimacy (Lewin 1946), and argues that individual behaviour is a product of both the person and the social environment, relating therefore agency of the individual to what the surrounding social context affords him/her.
Lott and Lott discover that the degree of liking is an indicator of group cohesion (Lott and Lott 1966), and advance a new definition of social cohesion as a group property that is induced from the amount and strength of reciprocal positive attitudes among individuals of a group (Lott and Lott 1961).
In 1983, Stokes supports previous studies on the degree of cohesion and quality of information disclosed to other members, by defending that group cohesion is enhanced whenever intimate topics are shared in between individuals of the group, and whenever individuals adopt a balanced risktaking behaviour (Stokes 1983).（For example, sharing gossip?）
The Council of Europe defines social cohesion as “the capacity of a society to ensure the well-being of all its members, minimizing disparities and avoiding marginalization” (Europe 2008) with the following characteristics: (1) reciprocal loyalty and solidarity, (2) strength of social relations and shared values, (3) sense of belonging, (4) trust among individuals of society (the community), and (5) reduction of inequalities and exclusion.
！！Groenewegen studies health, well-being, and feelings of social safety, and looks at how social cohesion is affected by local green areas (Groenewegen et al. 2006). He argues that attractive green areas in the neighbourhood may serve as a focal point of tacit coordination for positive informal social interaction, which strengthens social ties and social cohesion.
De Vries furthers the work of Groenewegen by focusing on greenspaces and in three particular mechanisms through which greenery might exert its positive effect on health: stress reduction, stimulating physical activity and facilitating social cohesion (De Vries et al. 2013). His study confirms that green spaces of quality reduce stress and facilitate social cohesion.