From Mixing with Strangers to Collective Placemaking: Existing Theories, Policies and Practices around Social Cohesion in Public Space Design

Social cohesion is an idea that all societies aspire towards though its definitions and the means to achieve it have been always subjects of contestation (Jenson, 1998). Traditionally understood as the state of affairs concerning how well people form an effective and meaningful whole, it is often considered an indicator of a well-functioning society (Stevenson and Waite, 2011). During recent history, however, the value of social cohesion is being questioned (Mann, 1970; Mouffe, 2000). Over the last two decades, societies worldwide are facing serious challenges to achieve it and many no longer place it as an important precondition to become fully democratic (Mouffe, 2000). A context of rising diversity, pluralism, neoliberalism, austerity and a series of ethnic conflicts and terrorist attacks have brought about a culture of fear, intolerance and distrust of strangers, which is being evidenced in our everyday public spaces. This context has led to an increasing effort from national governments to address these challenges, either through more culturally sensitive social policies and public realm programmes or through domesticating and disciplining strangers by tightening the control, access and use of public spaces (Amin, 2002).