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This chapter explores the role of social cohesion in African post-colonial state- and nation-building. It argues that understandings of social cohesion, rooted in pre-colonial traditions and concepts, were central to political and intellectual debates during decolonization in the 1960s and remain relevant today. Drawing on ethnophilosophical sources, such as oral traditions, proverbs, and communal practices, as well as social theories of African humanism and socialism, this chapter identifies core African notions of interconnectedness, collective responsibility, and the common good. Concepts including ubuntu, ujamaa, harambee, and other local philosophies illustrate how interdependence, identity, lineage, and community well-being shaped both traditional societies and post-independence political visions. African leaders and intellectuals invoked these ideas to legitimize distinctive paths of development, often contrasting them with Western models of statehood and individualism. At the same time, tensions arose between local, national, and pan-African identities, and between communal ideals and the practicalities of mass societies. By situating these debates historically and conceptually, this chapter demonstrates that social cohesion has been a constitutive element of African state- and nation-building and offers insights into contemporary challenges of inclusion, identity, and unity across diverse societies.

This chapter explores the role of social cohesion in African post-colonial state- and nation-building. It argues that understandings of social cohesion, rooted in pre-colonial traditions and concepts, were central to political and intellectual debates during decolonization in the 1960s and remain relevant today. Drawing on ethnophilosophical sources, such as oral traditions, proverbs, and communal practices, as well as social theories of African humanism and socialism, this chapter identifies core African notions of interconnectedness, collective responsibility, and the common good. Concepts including ubuntu, ujamaa, harambee, and other local philosophies illustrate how interdependence, identity, lineage, and community well-being shaped both traditional societies and post-independence political visions. African leaders and intellectuals invoked these ideas to legitimize distinctive paths of development, often contrasting them with Western models of statehood and individualism. At the same time, tensions arose between local, national, and pan-African identities, and between communal ideals and the practicalities of mass societies. By situating these debates historically and conceptually, this chapter demonstrates that social cohesion has been a constitutive element of African state- and nation-building and offers insights into contemporary challenges of inclusion, identity, and unity across diverse societies.

This chapter explores the role of social cohesion in African post-colonial state- and nation-building. It argues that understandings of social cohesion, rooted in pre-colonial traditions and concepts, were central to political and intellectual debates during decolonization in the 1960s and remain relevant today. Drawing on ethnophilosophical sources, such as oral traditions, proverbs, and communal practices, as well as social theories of African humanism and socialism, this chapter identifies core African notions of interconnectedness, collective responsibility, and the common good. Concepts including ubuntu, ujamaa, harambee, and other local philosophies illustrate how interdependence, identity, lineage, and community well-being shaped both traditional societies and post-independence political visions. African leaders and intellectuals invoked these ideas to legitimize distinctive paths of development, often contrasting them with Western models of statehood and individualism. At the same time, tensions arose between local, national, and pan-African identities, and between communal ideals and the practicalities of mass societies. By situating these debates historically and conceptually, this chapter demonstrates that social cohesion has been a constitutive element of African state- and nation-building and offers insights into contemporary challenges of inclusion, identity, and unity across diverse societies.

Nach ersten Erkenntnissen hat sich ein Mann am Dienstagabend in einem Bus in Kerzers FR mit Benzin übergossen und angezündet. Faton Morina hat den tragischen Moment beobachtet und seinem Cousin Arbi Berisha sogleich alles berichtet.

Der Machtkampf bei Swiss Cycling spitzt sich zu: Am Samstag in Bern steht die Vorstandswahl an. Funktionär Rolf Hollinger kritisiert Ausschlüsse und Wahlkampfeinmischungen – und fordert mehr Transparenz und Ruhe im Verband.

Beim Postauto-Brand von Kerzers wurden am Dienstagabend sechs Menschen getötet. Unter den Opfern ist auch Lara Baumgartner, Moderatorin bei Energy Bern.

In der Zürcher Kronenhalle gibt es einen Wechsel in der Küche: Peter Schärer hört als Chef de Cuisine auf. 35 Jahre lang hat er das Lokal geprägt – und mit seinem Führungsstil in einer SRF-Doku für Irritationen gesorgt. Schärers Nachfolger kommt aus dem eigenen Haus.

GC macht sich das Leben selbst schwer. Nach einem Sieg aus elf Spielen wird es auch für Scheiblehner langsam eng. Dass sein Nervenkostüm langsam dünn wird, zeigt eine Szene mit einer PET-Flasche. Mehr dazu im Fussballpodcast «FORZA!».

Damit die selbst gebackene Pizza gelingt, sind die passenden Zutaten, Geduld und die richtige Technik bei der Zubereitung notwendig. Wenn man diese 10 typischen Fehler vermeidet, gelingt das beliebte Gericht aus Italien auch daheim.

Jil Teichmann entschied sich vor einem halben Jahr trotz Aufwärtstrend zum Vollstopp. Hier erklärt die Bielerin, weshalb sie dem Tennis zugunsten ihrer mentalen Gesundheit entfloh. Und warum sie jetzt zurückkehrt.

A képviselők támogatták az adatvédelmi jogszabályoktól való eltérés meghosszabbítását, hogy az internetes cégek önként felderíthessék a gyermekek szexuális bántalmazását ábrázoló anyagokat.
Állampolgári Jogi, Bel- és Igazságügyi Bizottság

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2026 - EP

In a report adopted on Wednesday, MEPs call for deeper EU-Canada cooperation to tackle security threats and boost trade amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In a report adopted on Wednesday, MEPs call for deeper EU-Canada cooperation to tackle security threats and boost trade amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In a report adopted on Wednesday, MEPs call for deeper EU-Canada cooperation to tackle security threats and boost trade amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Ob grün, weiss oder violett: Spargel zählt zu den beliebtesten Gemüsesorten im Frühling. Was es beim Kauf und der Zubereitung zu beachten gilt.

Der Winter ist fast vorbei, und der Frühling macht sich bemerkbar. Jetzt stehen im Garten, auf dem Balkon und der Terrasse wieder vermehrt Arbeiten an. Hier findest du Tipps und Ideen für schöne Gärten und Balkone.

Veronica Fusaro tritt mit ihrem Song «Alice» am ESC 2026 an. Der Titel behandelt ein sensibles Thema und hebt sich als Highlight ihres Albums hervor. Die Sängerin ist stolz, ihre Botschaft auf der grossen Bühne zu präsentieren.

Nutze jetzt das neue Feature «Follow My Team» und profitiere mehrfach. Folge den FCZ, erhalte personalisierte Inhalte und wahre deine Chance auf tolle Gewinne. Ein Superfan kann ein personalisiertes FCZ-Shirt abräumen.

Die EU-Erweiterung ist eine strategische Antwort auf die geopolitische Lage und eine wesentliche Investition in die Sicherheit und Stabilität der EU, so das Europäische Parlament.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

This paper analyses both theoretically and empirically, the relationship between inequality and social cohesion, where social cohesion is conceptualized as a multi-faceted phenomenon encompassing three core attributes: trust, inclusive identity and cooperation for the common good. These attributes operate along two dimensions: the horizontal and the vertical dimension. First, it provides an overview of the empirical evidence regarding the relationship between inequality and the three attributes of social cohesion. While inequality is likely to have a negative effect on all three attributes, the intensity of the relationship may depend on some key mediating factors. The empirical analysis focuses on Africa, given the scarce evidence for this continent. As expected, it shows that countries with higher income inequality usually have lower levels of social cohesion, measured by an aggregate index. This negative correlation holds when the three attributes of social cohesion are examined separately; however, the intensity varies. It is stronger for trust than for identity and cooperation. Further analysis indicates that a clear negative relationship between inequality and social cohesion attributes is visible only when the focus is on the horizontal dimension of social cohesion.