Social Cohesion as a Real-life Phenomenon: Exploring the Validity of the Universalist and Particularist Perspectives

Component

Indicator___________________________

Item(s) in survey__________________________________________________________

Data source

Common values

Consensus on traditional-secular values
(1.5 - SD)

Consensus on survival-selfexpression
values (1.5 - SD)

Consensus on gender equality (1 - SD)

Consensus on democracy as preferred
system (1 - SD)__________________________

Composite dimension called „Tradrat5’ in WVS database;

Composite dimension called „Survself’ in WVS database;

When jobs are scarce, men should have more right to a job than women (agree; neither;
disagree)

For each one of the following political systems, how good a way would you say it is of
governing this country? - Having a democratic political system (very good; fairly good;
fairly bad; very bad)________________________________________________________________________

WVS 1999

Shared sense of
belonging

Geographic unit of identification (mean)

National pride (mean)

Which of these geographical groups would you say you belong to first of all? (locality or
town; region; country; continent; world)

How proud are you to be a [COUNTRY] citizen? (not at all proud; not very proud; quite
proud; very proud)_____________________________________________________________________

WVS 1999

Social trust

Percentage saying most people can be
trusted_______________________________________

Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can’t be too
careful in dealing with people? (most people can be trusted; can’t be too careful)_____________

WVS 1999

Tolerance

Percentage not mentioning immigrants as
unwanted neighbours

Percentage not mentioning homosexuals as

unwanted neighbours____________________

Which people would you not like to have as neighbours?

- Immigrantsforeign workers (mentioned; not mentioned)

- Homosexuals (mentioned; not mentioned)

WVS 1999

Institutional
trust______________

Trust in parliament (mean)

How much confidence do you have in Parliament? (none at all; not very much; quite a lot; a
great deal)

WVS 1999

Civic
participation

political
engagement

Number of different organizations
respondent belongs to (mean)

Discussing politics with friends (mean)

Please look carefully at the following list of voluntary organizations and activities and say
which, if any, do you belong to:

[respondent can choose from 9 different organizations - see Appendix 1] (mentioned; not
mentioned)

How often do you discuss political matters with friends? (Never; Occasionally; Frequently)

WVS 1999

Social order

100 minus number of homicides per
100.000 inhabitants________________________

"UN

Equality

1 minus Gini coefficient of income
inequality___________________________________

World Bank