Executive Summary

This inaugural research study is a modest attempt to understand the nature of social cohesion within ASEAN against the changing and varying cultural and physical landscape in the region. Conducted under pandemic conditions, this study adapts the Social Cohesion Framework developed by the Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation, which seeks to understand the level of cohesion in countries using quantitative methods. It also taps into the perspectives of 1,000 thought leaders in Southeast Asia (100 from each country) to explore their views on social cohesion in their country and the region. The findings provide insights that could hopefully allow the various stakeholders to develop strategies and solutions to continue their efforts to strengthen social cohesion in their respective communities.

Previous studies that examined Southeast Asian countries using secondary data overlooked the strong impact of racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities on social cohesion in the region. The lack of dedicated focus on the 10 ASEAN member states did not allow a complete or adequate appreciation of social cohesion in the region. This inclusive study, taking into account all 10 ASEAN members, seeks to establish a better understanding of the nature of social cohesion within the region, and to enrich the discourse on social cohesion in Southeast Asia. A deeper appreciation of cohesion will help to nuance government policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion in the respective countries, and provide insights for civil society actors, non-government (NGOs), and others in their work for social cohesion.

Respondents from 10 ASEAN states comprising individuals from government agencies, academia, think tanks, research institutions, civil society organisations, non-government organisations, regional and international organisations, and the media were surveyed. The survey questions were based on Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Social Cohesion Framework, which identifies three domains that contribute to social cohesion: social relations, connectedness, and focus on the common good. Each domain is further organised into three dimensions. The social networks, trust in people, and acceptance of diversity dimensions come under the social relations domain. Identification, trust in institutions, and perception of fairness dimensions fall within the connectedness domain. Finally, the solidarity and helpfulness, respect for social rules, and civic participation dimensions are categorised under the focus on the common good domain. Questions to understand the thought leaders’ perceptions of social cohesion within their country and across the region were also included for a cross-country analysis.

As this is an initial study and based upon particular views and a snapshot in time, it should not be taken as providing a ranking of the most and least socially cohesive societies in Southeast Asia. Rather, it provides perspectives on which factors are seen as most conducive towards social cohesion, and reflects perceptions of the situation on the ground. Such quantifiable metrics may or may not reflect a variety of intangible and qualitative factors that play into the actual situation of cohesion in any location, and diversity within each nation is also noted.

Perspectives from the Southeast Asian region based on the study were as follows:

1. The overall level of social cohesion in Southeast Asia was at 69%. This reflected the percentage of those who saw social cohesion overall as “strong”, with 13% seeing it as “weak”. However, within both the region and in each country, there was considerable variation across the three domains of social relations, connectedness and focus on the common good. This established a current benchmark figure, although it was not in itself an absolute indicator.
2. Of the three domains, social relations had the strongest influence on social cohesion in Southeast Asia, while the domain of focus on the common good had the least impact on social cohesion in the region.
3. Of the nine dimensions, there was a strong respect for social rules within the region. The dimensions of social networks, trust in people, acceptance of diversity, and identification, fared relatively equally. The dimension of solidarity and helpfulness seemed relatively less influential in determining social cohesion among the regional countries.

These findings will provide Southeast Asian communities with the opportunity to:

1. Enhance strategies that strengthen the dimensions that contribute the most to social cohesion;
2. Engage community and religious leaders as well as relevant stakeholders to support dimensions under the focus on the common good domain; and
3. Explore initiatives that could boost the domains and dimensions that have been flagged as weaker in building social cohesion, such as solidarity and helpfulness and perception of fairness.

The survey provided an overview of the level of social cohesion in Southeast Asia. Many factors, such as the ongoing pandemic and the shifting public morale as well as travel restrictions and isolation measures imposed by governments to stem the COVID-19 virus, could have impacted the findings. Some of the influences that are unique to ASEAN member states may not have been significantly addressed by the framework or sampling population. Sentiments towards social cohesion may also change suddenly due to unexpected global and domestic incidents. Moving forward, it would be important to explore the diverse impact of religious traditions, gender, age, sentiments, leaders, general population, and grassroots activists on social cohesion in each country.

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