Social cohesion – a post-crisis analysis

Social cohesion is a complex notion, subject to various different approaches that we set out to analyse. Thus, the article presents the scientific views regarding social cohesion, both at an individual or group level and at a macro-social level. The concluding section presents the consequences for public policy of a pluralist approach to defining social cohesion, while underlining the importance of a bi-dimensional view – disparities/inequality/social exclusion and social relations/social bonds/social capital – in order to achieve a comprehensive vision of a society’s social cohesion.