LU konferencehttps://doi.org/10.22364/ilt.26.01 | 20-35 | PDF
Māris Kūlis
Dr. phil., Latvijas Universitātes Humanitāro zinātņu fakultātes Filozofijas un socioloģijas institūta vadošais pētnieks
Zinātniskās padomes loceklis un Filozofijas, ētikas un reliģijas nozares promocijas padomes filozofijā zinātniskais sekretārs
Sabiedrības saliedētība Latvijā: filozofiskie pamati, ideoloģiskās pretrunas un mūsdienu izaicinājumi
Atslēgvārdi: sabiedrības saliedētība, kopiena un identitāte, integrācijas politika, atsvešinātība, līdzdalība
Social Cohesion in Latvia: Philosophical Foundations, Ideological Contradictions, and Contemporary Challenges
Keywords: social cohesion, identity, justice, sustainable community
This article explores the philosophical foundations, ideological tensions, and contemporary challenges of social cohesion in Latvia. It is argued that the concept of cohesion is not ideologically neutral but deeply rooted in competing philosophical traditions and social imaginaries. Drawing on classical and modern thinkers, the text outlines three conceptual models of cohesion: equality and inclusion, social capital and trust networks, and functional institutional integration. Each model reflects distinct assumptions about what binds society together: shared values, interpersonal trust, or instrumental cooperation. Then it is examined how modern processes such as urbanization, individualism, and digitalization have eroded traditional forms of community and intensified fragmentation, offering a critical reflection on Latvia’s post-Soviet experience, navigating between ethnonationalist and civic-inclusive paradigms, with particular attention to language policy, historical memory, and institutional trust. Despite state efforts to promote unity, the persistence of parallel cultural and linguistic spheres highlights the complexity of forging a cohesive society. The paper contends that true cohesion cannot be imposed from above but must emerge from lived experience and mutual recognition. It emphasizes the ethical dimension of cohesion – respect, justice, and empathy – as central to any sustainable community. In conclusion, the text urges a rethinking of cohesion not as uniformity but as a shared horizon of meaning rooted in everyday life, where individuals encounter each other as equals and co-creators of a common world.
Saliedētības vektori. Sast., zin. red. I. Kivle, M. Kūlis. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2026, 200 lpp.