The role of heritage in promoting social cohesion

“To know our heritage takes us far toward improving our knowledge of ourselves, and to know ourselves is indispensable if we are to act with understanding and realism in shaping our future.” – Richard Hofstadter, Historian

THE World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as meeting present needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

This model rests on three pillars: environmental, economic, and social. While the debate on sustainable development initially focused on technical environmental issues like carbon emissions and energy consumption, it has since expanded to include urban regeneration and economic growth.

However, social sustainability remains underdeveloped compared to its environmental and economic counterparts. The United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Agenda underscores this by emphasising health, well-being, and the creation of peaceful, inclusive societies alongside environmental and economic goals.

This shift has led researchers to explore the social sustainability of cities, particularly from a community perspective. Social cohesion, a key factor in fostering social sustainability, strengthens community bonds and interactions, contributing to more harmonious and resilient urban societies.

Enhanced social cohesion, driven by local policy changes, promotes community well-being, reduces violence, improves mental and physical health, and fosters collective responsibility.

Heritage and community are deeply interconnected, each supporting and driving the other in urban development. Communities act as custodians of heritage, while heritage sites provide spaces for interaction and identity-building.

Heritage is increasingly recognised as a driver of sustainable development, with the 2030 Agenda explicitly including heritage conservation in the SDGs for the first time. While studies have explored heritage’s environmental and economic contributions—such as adaptive reuse of buildings and heritage tourism—its social role remains underexplored.

According to Unesco, heritage holds outstanding universal value—historic, artistic, aesthetic, or scientific—alongside environmental, social, and economic values. Environmentally, heritage preservation supports biodiversity and natural resource conservation.

Economically, heritage attracts investment, boosts tourism, and enhances property values. Socially, heritage fosters urban regeneration, community resilience, and local identity. It also promotes social diversity, inclusiveness, and sustainability.

Social sustainability focuses on equity and community resilience, with social cohesion playing a pivotal role. Strong social cohesion fosters fair, resilient urban societies, improving well-being, reducing violence, and enhancing disaster preparedness.

It aligns with the SDGs’ social dimensions, including health, education, peace, and violence reduction. Thus, building social cohesion at the community level is essential for achieving social sustainability in cities.

Few studies have examined the relationship between heritage and social cohesion, but those that do suggest that involvement in heritage management enhances social cohesion. Current research primarily focuses on Europe, with limited studies from Asia, particularly China and Southeast Asia. Japan’s approach—embracing economic modernisation while preserving cultural heritage—offers valuable insights for global heritage conservation.

Heritage and social cohesion are intertwined concepts that shape community and national identity. Heritage encompasses traditions, history, and cultural practices, while social cohesion refers to the bonds uniting a community. Together, they:

• promote cultural diversity by celebrating shared heritage;
• foster community engagement through heritage initiatives;
• support social inclusion by valuing diverse heritages;
• encourage national pride and unity.

Challenges include cultural homogenisation, social exclusion, and unresolved historical tensions. To address these, communities can:

• celebrate diverse heritages through festivals and events;
• integrate cultural education into schools and community programmes;
• encourage community participation in heritage initiatives;
• address historical tensions through dialogue and reconciliation.

Communities, as intersections of social sustainability and cohesion, are deeply linked to heritage. Traditionally defined by geographic proximity, communities are also shaped by shared memories and civic responsibility. Heritage serves as a nexus for interaction and collective memory, fostering a sense of place and shared identity. Communities, in turn, play a vital role in heritage conservation, ensuring its continuity and relevance.

Integrating heritage management into daily community life perpetuates traditional lifestyles and maintains heritage values. Similarly, incorporating heritage sites into urban spaces enhances their value and supports sustainable urban development. Heritage is not merely a historical relic but a living part of community life, continually reinterpreted to meet societal needs.

While heritage drives sustainable development, its social dimension remains underdeveloped compared to environmental and economic aspects. Maximising heritage’s social value requires collaboration among heritage managers, urban planners, and local communities. Heritage preservation enriches culture and strengthens social cohesion, contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive society.

* Dr Vusi Shongwe is the chief director for Heritage Resource Services in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture. This article is written in his personal capacity.

** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, Independent Media, or IOL.