Peace and social cohesion

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), social cohesion and inclusion in political, economic, social and civil participation reduce the risk of antisocial behavior and individual alienation that can lead to violent extremism. It can be described along two main dimensions:
The vertical dimension represents trust between the state and society. This encompasses trust in political, economic or social leaders, institutions and processes such as elections, access to justice, taxation, budgeting and the provision of public services. The vertical dimension, which focuses on the state, presupposes cohesion between citizens, where perceptions and behaviors reflect loyalty, broad legitimacy and trust in national, sub-national or local state actors, institutions and processes. In this vertical dimension, relationships within society are deeply influenced by political dynamics and, in particular, by state control.
The horizontal dimension describes the trust, relationships and interactions between people in a society across divisions such as identity or other social constructs, including race or class. The horizontal dimension, which is society-centric, presupposes cohesion between citizens, reflected in the way civil society, social organizations and institutions (such as religious ones) demonstrate trust and a sense of interdependence and common destiny.

Research in sociology, economics, political science and social psychology shows that cohesive societies are more likely to have better individual health outcomes, greater income equality and more extensive social support and protection systems. Cohesive societies also generally tend to correspond to stronger citizenship norms and experience higher levels of institutionalized, responsive governance and, potentially, support democracy and popular participation. Clearly, then, social cohesion is an important link in a society’s peace and development.

However, since 2016, Burkina Faso has been marked by an upsurge in conflicts, insecurity and its corollary of forced population displacements. The social and cultural foundations that once served as the basis and benchmark for everyday behavior and for living in harmony between different socio-ethnic groups are gradually being threatened. To counter this, Solidar Suisse uses social cohesion as a tool to strengthen socio-ethnic ties through the promotion of local democracy, community participation, interculturality and non-violent communication. The ultimate aim is to strengthen peaceful coexistence and create positive interactions between host social groups and internally displaced persons, thereby fostering individual and collective development.