Relentless cost-of-living pressure, rising interest rates, uncertainty about the direction of the economy and growing concern about inequality has undermined Australia’s sense of social cohesion, according to authoritative new research.

After a polarising voice referendum campaign and amid rising community tensions over the war in the Middle East, the latest Mapping Social Cohesion Report puts the Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion at its lowest ebb since the survey began 16 years ago.

The social cohesion index provides a barometer of social wellbeing, measuring belonging, worth, participation, acceptance and rejection, social inclusion and justice. The measure declined by four points over the past 12 months, hitting the lowest result on record. Since November 2020 – the peak of social cohesion recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic – the index has plummeted 13 points.

  • Shalakushka@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Why does communism have to create utopia to be a competitor to capitalism, which demonstrably creates dystopia?

    • wscholermann
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Because it just creates another form of dystopia.

      What works best I think out of all the systems we have currently is something like “cuddly capitalism” i.e. Scandinavia. That’s not perfect either but even so.

      • Shalakushka@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        3
        ·
        1 year ago

        So, basically capitalism can be reformed (as long as you ignore its issues) but communism cannot be (because you said so).