Ipsos Study: Social Cohesion Under Assault Globally
A new global study by Ipsos indicates that social cohesion has weakened during the pandemic. The research reveals that significantly more citizens report experiencing weak social cohesion than strong cohesion.
Global research firm Ipsos has released a report indicating that social cohesion is "under assault" worldwide. According to the study, nearly twice as many citizens globally experience "weak" social cohesion compared to those reporting "solid" cohesion.
The Ipsos Social Cohesion Index (ISCI) measures cohesion across three core aspects: social relations, connectedness, and focus on the common good. The research was conducted in 27 countries in October 2020 to provide data for discussions on the pandemic's societal impacts.
The findings show that only six countries—China, Saudi Arabia, Australia, India, Malaysia, and Sweden—reported a net positive level of social cohesion. Conversely, most countries, including Japan, South Korea, Poland, France, and Belgium, exhibited a net negative situation.
Ipsos highlights the concern over low levels of social cohesion, particularly given the uncertainty and future challenges arising from the pandemic. However, the majority of citizens in most countries report a "moderate" (soft) level of cohesion, suggesting their outlook could shift positively or negatively depending on evolving national and personal circumstances.