Social cohesion revisited: Policy and practice in migrant concentration areas of Sydney and Melbourne

This paper examines the understanding of social cohesion by policymakers, practitioners and residents, with particular reference to migrant concentration areas in Sydney and Melbourne. Ten suburbs we focus on had a high proportion of Muslim Australian residents and were socioeconomically disadvantag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Australian journal of social issues Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 215 - 232
Main Authors Sharples, Rachel, Colic‐Peisker, Val
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Sydney Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2022
Subjects
Censuses
Disadvantaged
ethnic diversity
Ethnicity
Extremism
Immigration policy
metropolitan cities
Migrants
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Policy making
Residents
Respondents
Social cohesion
social policy
socioeconomic disadvantage
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomic status
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Summary:This paper examines the understanding of social cohesion by policymakers, practitioners and residents, with particular reference to migrant concentration areas in Sydney and Melbourne. Ten suburbs we focus on had a high proportion of Muslim Australian residents and were socioeconomically disadvantaged at the time of the 2016 Australian Census. The paper is based on 52 in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews, mainly with professionals delivering local programmes and services, but also with residents. Based on interview data, the paper seeks to unpack the concept of social cohesion, particularly as it is applied to local programmes and discuss the understandings of the relationship of social cohesion with ethnic diversity and socioeconomic disadvantage. We found that most respondents considered “social cohesion” a positive feature of local and broader society, but the concept was variously understood. The understanding of its relationship with ethnic diversity and socioeconomic status of a local area also varied, but the predominant view was that social cohesion is put under stress by socioeconomic disadvantage. In some cases, “social cohesion” was understood, and criticised, as a coded policy formula for “preventing violent extremism” policies, especially in Muslim concentration areas, therefore with a potential to alienate local communities instead of helping them.
ISSN:0157-6321
1839-4655
DOI:10.1002/ajs4.136