Social Cohesion in the Western World

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxxii

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2. Theoretical Framework of the Social Cohesion Radar

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 1-13

3. Methodology of the Social Cohesion Radar

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 15-34

4. Level and Trend of Social Cohesion

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 35-45

5. Syndrome Character and Regimes of Social Cohesion

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 47-58

6. Macro-Level Causes and Effects of Social Cohesion

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 59-77

7. Social Cohesion, Values of Individuals, and Their Well-being

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 79-92

8. A Case Study: Social Cohesion in Germany

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 93-109

9. Conclusion and Outlook

   • Georgi Dragolov, Zsófia S. Ignácz, Jan Lorenz, Jan Delhey, Klaus Boehnke, Kai Unzicker

   Pages 111-116

10. Back Matter

    Pages 117-138

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Many people in the Western world are concerned that the social fabric of societies is fraying. This book constitutes the first-of-its-kind systematic account of social cohesion, from theory through methodology to empirical evidence. Readers are introduced to the academically developed Social Cohesion Radar of Bertelsmann Stiftung, a globally active non-governmental organization. The Social Cohesion Radar defines and measures cohesion as characterized by three core aspects: resilient social relations, positive emotional connectedness between people and the community, and a pronounced focus on the common good. Using high-quality academic and institutional data sources, the Social Cohesion Radar provides insights into the level and development of social cohesion over a period of almost 25 years internationally, among 34 European Union and OECD members, and regionally, among the 16 federal states of Germany. It further provides insights into what influences cohesion, and what cohesion is good for. One of the key findings is that social cohesion promotes a happier life for everyone.

• Social cohesion
• Social capital
• Quality of life
• Social indicators
• International comparison

“The authors succinctly and coherently present a sophisticated analysis of social cohesion and its concomitant factors … . The book would be of interest to scholars of social cohesion, and social cohesion policy makers. I would also recommend the book to quantitative methods instructors. Dragolov et al. succeed in presenting complex statistical methods in an easily understood manner, making it accessible to those without a strong background in quantitative methodology.” (Stephen Richard Trotter, Nordic Journal of Migration Research, Vol. 7 (3), September, 2017)

• Bremen Int. Graduate School of Soc. Sci., Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  Georgi Dragolov

• Institute of Sociology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  Zsófia S. Ignácz

• Bremen Inter. Graduate School of Soc.Sci, Jacobs University Bremen, Bremen, Germany

  Jan Lorenz, Klaus Boehnke

• Institute for Sociology, Otto-von-Guericke Univ. Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

  Jan Delhey

• Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh, Germany

  Kai Unzicker

Kai Unzicker is Senior Project Manager at the Bertelsmann Stiftung in Gütersloh and is heading the Social Cohesion Radar project. He holds a degree in sociology from Philipps-University Marburg and a doctoral degree in educational science from the University of Bielefeld. Before joining Bertelsmann Stiftung he was a research associate at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence (University of Bielefeld).

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