Glue of place

Everyone wants to find their own place in the world. But where is it and what is it? How do we recognise place as being significant and not just merely space? These are questions that have taxed philosophers as far back as ancient Greece. But they are also much more than philosophical investigations. In a world where neighbours fight over a stretch of land, or where some groups can feel safe only in certain locations, place is a living reality that can be either the cause for violent conflict or the glue that binds communities together.

Dean, T. & Millar, J. (2005) 'Place', Thames & Hudson

Social Glue

"Uppermost on my mind today is the challenge of finding ways to reduce the prevalence and severity of mutually projective disconnects between Community groups. Put more positively, I am committed to identifying promising ways of creating fundamental linkages and integrative connections between groups who otherwise would remain indifferent to, ignorant about, or alienated from one another. Such integrative efforts will, I believe, develop the amount of “social glue” that must be in place before we can create the social capitol needed for effective problem-solving and community building.

I use the term “social glue” as a metaphor for the presence within a locality of a mutual bond of recognition, connectedness, feeling of responsibility for, and concern for others because they occupy the same territorial Community. This definition of social glue does not necessarily include trust, liking, or mutual respect. Those may come later once the feeling of connection and the sense of being in the same boat has been established. Social glue can and does exist between individuals and groups who are at odds with or even dislike one another. A sufficient amount of social glue maintains the bedrock of community even in the face of mistrust, differences, disagreements, and even bitterly contested conflicts. With enough effort and ingenuity it is possible to use that bedrock of connection to create the trust, fellow-feeling, and willingness to work collaboratively on issues of common concern that have been labeled social capital. Integrative infrastructures that foster social glue are, therefore, essential to any wellfunctioning Community".

http://www.humiliationstudies.org/documents/KleinCreatingSocialGlueCommunities.pdf