La coesione interrotta

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to analyze the propensity for social cohesion of young Italians. Our hypothesis is that – since the 1990s – young people in Italy have exhibited a lack of social cohesion. Young people who have grown up in post-modern society have had to adapt to individualistic effects of flexible jobs, globalization and ethical relativism. These generations have been defined as flexible generations. This analysis aims at verifying this hypothesis by means of an empirical study. Social cohesion is defined as a multi-dimensional concept with a subjective, an objective and a relational dimension. The subjective dimension concerns feelings about society and institutions. The objective dimension concerns individual propensity towards participation. The relational dimension concerns the typology of important ties/nets selected. An analysis of national and local data shows that young people present a lack of relational cohesion that which over a long period of time can damage the other dimensions of social cohesion. This condition seems accentuated by the current economic crisis.