There is no universally accepted definition of social cohesion, though it is a widely used term. For Durkheim, it was an important characteristic of a society which showed the interdependence of its members — basically, members of a society needed each other to survive and prosper. More recently, and as societies have become much more diverse, it refers to the extent to which different groups (in terms of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political persuasion etc.) can coexist peacefully.
The breakdown of social cohesion has detrimental effects on individuals, communities and whole societies, as trust and peaceful coexistence are replaced by hostility, anxiety, lack of trust and sometimes conflict. The more unequal a society — in terms of wealth, power and access to basic necessities — the less likely it is that there will be social cohesion.
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