Is social cohesion a moral good? And can governments influence it?
Could we become an 'island of strangers'? And what can governments do to foster social cohesion?
Are we at risk of becoming 鈥渁n island of strangers鈥? The Prime Minister, backtracking on many fronts, has apologised for the phrase - he says he hadn鈥檛 read it properly before he said it 鈥 but he鈥檚 backed a grand-sounding Independent Commission that鈥檚 now at work to fix a society it says is a 鈥渢inderbox of division鈥.
Is it? Social attitude surveys suggest we鈥檙e one of the most tolerant countries on earth.
What do we mean by social cohesion? Is it something wider than community cohesion? What about the class divisions?
Is it important for us all to mix with each or a natural human instinct to cleave to those who are like you?
Is social cohesion a moral good in itself? And is 鈥榞etting on with each other鈥 something that can be achieved by government fiat?
PANELLISTS: INAYA FOLARIN-IMAN, LORD JONATHAN SUMPTION, PROF MONA SIDDIQUI, SONIA SODHA
WITNESSES: MATTHEW SYED, Journalist
SIMON LEVINE from ODI, a global affairs think tank
JULIE SIDDIQI, Community relations consultant
RAVI GURUMURTHY, CEO of NESTA, the UK innovation foundation for social good
Chaired by Michael Buerk
PRODUCER: Catherine Murray
ASST PRODUCER: Peter Everett
EDITOR: Tim Pemberton
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Moral Maze
Live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week's news stories. #moralmaze
