Neighbourhoods and Social Cohesion: Why Neighbourhoods Still Matter

Abstract

This study analyses the connection between neighbourly relations and social cohesion. These concepts obviously overlap to a certain degree, but it is not clear how they are related. The crucial questions are if and how neighbourly relations can promote social cohesion. To answer this, a qualitative study based on interviews (n = 4 0) was conducted to examine neighbourly relations in two urban districts in Germany. Both districts are characterized by high levels of social segregation and cultural diversity but differ from each other in terms of the extent of resident turnover, the availability of local social service organizations, and their respective urban development profiles. The results show that there is a close connection between residents' perceptions of social cohesion and inclination for social participation in the neighbourhood. Local social service organizations and associations can play a critical role in facilitating the social encounters that create such perceptions. Basically, neighbourly relationships are influenced by the local conditions, especially by the extent of fluctuation but also by neighbourly behaviour, which promotes social cohesion at the neighbourhood level.