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The COVID-19 crisis has affected the lives of people around the world more than any other recent event.In a special issue of an online journal Frontiers of sociologyA group of researchers, compiled by sociologists from the Konstructor University and the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, has documented the global impact of the pandemic on the social cohesion of individual population groups and regions of the world.
Did the pandemic unite society or tear it apart? That was one of the central questions posed by scientists.
Dr Mandy Larsen, a sociologist at Constructor University, said: ‘The empirical knowledge gained in this special issue deepens our understanding of the social impact of the pandemic. “Sound scientific evidence is also important.” Countering future pandemics from a sociopolitical perspective. ”
She is responsible for this special issue together with her expert colleagues Dr. Georgi Dragolov and Professor Jan Delhei from the Konstructor University and Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg. The trio also wrote the foreword for the special issue, which will be published on May 10, 2023.
In nine articles, the authors examine the impact of the pandemic and the restrictive measures implemented by governments to contain it. They discuss, for example, the impact on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and immigrants in different countries around the world. One study looks at ideological polarization over the course of the pandemic, using Austria as an example, and another looks at coronavirus deniers in Germany. Other articles analyze the importance of poverty and describe Russia’s experience with the pandemic.
What all studies have in common is that at least one of the three core elements of social cohesion, as outlined by the Bertelsmann Stiftung Social Cohesion Radar, also developed by social scientists from both universities, is It’s what we focus on. ; trust in institutions, especially political institutions; and a willingness to help, care for, and work for the common good.
“Social cohesion is the glue that holds our society together,” says Mandy Larsen. “This special issue provides a lot of background on the current state of research.”
However, this special issue does not provide a direct answer to the question of whether the pandemic has promoted unity or rather divided society. It depends on the social context, the measures introduced and the stage of the pandemic, sociologists say. “A deeper understanding of this complexity is key to developing long-term strategies to manage the societal impact of this and future pandemics.”
For more information:
Mandi M. Larsen et al., Editorial: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Cohesion Around the World, Frontiers of sociology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2023.1182452
Provided by Constructor University