Unraveling three of a kind: Cohesion, community and solidarity

Abstract

The attention devoted to social cohesion as a central theme in the Dutch social sciences is an example of how Dutch sociologists are influenced by and constantly influence the public debate. Although the term social cohesion has become increasingly popular, its usefulness as a conceptual tool is rarely a topic of discussion. Apparently, social cohesion sounds less normative than community. Perhaps its popularity can be explained by its neutral connotation rather than its analytical power. This paper critically reviews the use of the term and investigates what is meant when either the presence or absence of social cohesion is defined as a social problem. There is a strong conceptual conflation between saying cohesion and meaning community. A relational model of social relationships can be a more fruitful way to address community than the approaches currently predominant in the Dutch academic debate.