Exploring South Africans’ understanding of social cohesion Kate Lefko-Everett, Justine Burns, Sihle Nontshokweni and Lindokuhle Njozela Working Paper Series Number 218, Version 1 About the Author(s) and Acknowledgments This paper was prepared by the Poverty and Inequality Initiative (PII) at the University of Cape Town, with the support of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Recommended citation Lefko-Everett, K., Burns, J., Nontshokweni, S., Njozela, L. (2018). Exploring South Africans’ understanding of social cohesion. Cape Town: SALDRU, UCT. (SALDRU Working Paper Number 218). ISBN: 978-1-928281-79-5 © Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, UCT, 2018 Working Papers can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format from www.opensaldru.uct.ac.za. A limited amount of printed copies are available from the Senior Administrative Offi cer: SALDRU, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, Tel: (021) 650 1808, Fax: (021) 650 5697, Email:
[email protected] Exploring South Africans’ understanding of social cohesion Kate Lefko-Everett, Justine Burns, Sihle Nontshokweni and Lindokuhle Njozela Saldru Working Paper 218 University of Cape Town January 2018 Introduction Since the late 1980s, there has been a growing interest among governments, international organisations and others in promoting and pursuing social cohesion. This has particularly been the case in societies undergoing transition or navigating internal divisions or challenges, related to events such as major economic downturns, changing migration patterns or ethnic or cultural conflict. A critical yet often elusive challenge, achieving social cohesion has become a panacea for a wide range of societal issues, and is often associated with positive outcomes including more stable and participatory democracies, greater economic productivity and growth, inclusivity and tolerance, effective conflict management and resolution, and a generally better quality of life for people (Lefko- Everett, 2016, p.