One of the main goals of the European Union that have become part of its overall policy and strategies is cohesion. There are three types – economic, territorial and social cohesion and the three of them should go hand in hand and are equally important.
Social cohesion includes a few elements the most important of which is the well-being of the constituent members of society – be it the community that make up an entire country, or a region, neighbourhood, etc. It serves as a basis for building trust and a better living environment, the creation of a sense of belonging and to fight one of the problems of our contemporary world social exclusion and marginalization.
Social cohesion in Baden-Württemberg
This region of Germany presents some good examples of how social cohesion supported by public authorities can make a difference for people. According to results from the last research made on the matter for 2019, the region is strong and stable with much better results than the previous research conducted in 2017.
It was carried through by Bertelsmann Foundation and funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration. It had three dimensions, namely:
- Social relationships.
- Connectedness.
- Focus on the common good.
The main conclusions that the Bertelsmann Foundation has made include the following:
- 80% of the citizens feel attached to their land and home. This is due to the good social policy instruments put in place by the region and the separate municipalities. The main instruments in this direction include initiatives for less-included groups such as the poor, ill people, women, etc.
- The society of Baden-Württemberg is open and tolerant. Through different volunteering programs and initiatives for raising awareness, people in the region accept others to a much greater degree than before. And this is despite the refugee crisis. This creates a greater sense of community against hatred, insecurity and fear. All these concerns are especially strong in times of crisis.
The future of social cohesion in this particular German region lies within:
- A program for comprehensive civic structures and further development and improvement of social potential through different instruments such as respect in social media, revitalization of public areas, encouraging dialogue and active public participation, etc.
- “Strong Children Rich in Opportunity” – a 10-million-euro initiative, partially funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), to help children have more opportunities for development and a brighter future.
For the period 2014-2020, the European Social Fund has allocated more than 7 of the total 19 million euros for social cohesion policy in Germany. Areas for financing include research and innovation, competitiveness and labour market, social inclusion, education, etc. Success stories are visible throughout Germany with some prominent examples in Berlin, Potsdam, Koblenz, Hessen, etc.