Moral Maze Is social cohesion a moral good? And can governments influence it?
Jul 3, 2025
Guest
Inaya Folarin Iman
Guest
Lord Jonathan Sumption
Guest
Ravi Gurumurthy
Guest
Simon Levine
Guest
Mona Siddiqui
Guest
Julie Siddiqui
Guest
Matthew Syed
Matthew Syed, a columnist and broadcaster, shares insights on social cohesion shaped by his experiences. Julie Siddiqui highlights her grassroots work promoting interfaith understanding. Professor Mona Siddiqui discusses pluralism and the governmental role in fostering community bonds. Ravi Gurumurthy presents statistics on race relations, while Lord Jonathan Sumption explores human nature's impact on social unity. Inaya Folarin-Iman adds her thoughts on national identity, questioning if genuine social cohesion can be achieved through policy alone.
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Episode notes
Matthew Syed's Integration Story
- Matthew Syed shared his experience as a mixed-race boy overcoming family objections about interracial marriage.
- His story illustrates the integration possibilities amid diverse societies despite challenges.
Common Loyalty Fosters Cohesion
- People naturally mix with others sharing ethnicity, class, or culture.
- A common transcending loyalty is essential for wider social cohesion to develop.
Commission Should Seek Understanding
- The commission should aim to deepen understanding of people's lived experiences.
- Trying to engineer social cohesion directly is unlikely to succeed.