Sociological Perspectives on Social Cohesion as the Principal Requirement for Social Stability
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Authors
Madonsela, Stanley
Issue Date
2017-12-06
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
social interaction , social cohesion , social structure , sociological perspectives , religion
Alternative Title
Abstract
Social cohesion is the cornerstone of social relationships, which depend critically on the
social systems that determine people’s behaviour. Members of society are defined by their
cultural values and beliefs, in terms of which interactions may meet with social approbation
or disapprobation. In any society, interactions that draw endorsement from other people
are more likely to be welcomed and encouraged, as opposed to interactions that elicit
disapproval within the social structure. This article is intended to clarify the concept of social
cohesion by reviewing its inherent dimensions in context with the sociological perspectives
exemplified in O. E. H. M. Nxumalo’s short story, Lo mngcwabo ngowabakhethiweyo (This
Funeral Is for the Chosen Ones). The dimensional notion of social cohesion is considered
in light of sociological approaches that are prominent in the ongoing critical debate around
social relations in context with religion as a pivotal agent in establishing social cohesion
and stability within a broader society. At present, religion is considered a belief system that
shapes people’s thinking and world view, and by the same token serves as a social institution
that mediates social action as an expression of how people use beliefs and practices to
attribute meaning to their existence.
Description
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Citation
Stanley Madonsela (2017) Sociological Perspectives on Social Cohesion as the Principal Requirement for Social Stability, South African Review of Sociology, 48:3, 84-98, DOI: 10.1080/21528586.2017.1299040
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
License
© Unisa Press
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
2072-1978