In today’s socio-political climate marked by polarization, corruption, declining trust, and persistent conflicts, spaces where people can meet, connect, and exchange ideas across differences in origin, age, or social status remain rare. Yet social cohesion, the “glue” that binds communities, as UNECE calls it, is an essential tool for peacebuilding. It fosters belonging, trust, and mutual respect, helping to prevent conflict, not only in crisis or post-conflict settings but also for sustaining long-term peace.
In this October edition of à propos, KOFF contributors share approaches and mechanisms to preserve, strengthen, or restore social cohesion. As societal divides are manifold, so are the ways to bridge them. This edition highlights some creative examples: biographical storytelling and dialogue, art and culture, collective cooking, forming associations, healing intergenerational trauma, or managing communal land tensions.
These efforts are challenging amid persistent inequalities, power imbalances, and intersecting identities. They raise questions about effectiveness, legitimacy, and over-institutionalization. In the pursuit of social cohesion, it is essential to ensure that marginalized groups, such as women, youth, and refugees actively shape the process, while engaging both grassroots communities and authorities.
Delve into diverse contexts where the social fabric has been broken and discover potential approaches that can strengthen social bonds, making societies more resilient, and capable of sustaining peace.
I wish you a pleasant read.
Sanjally Jobarteh, editor of KOFF Magazin