Societal Cohesion as a Foundation of Societal Resilience: Evidence from the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

This paper examines societal cohesion as a structural determinant of societal resilience in the Republic of Moldova, drawing on theoretical frameworks from the literature on social capital, governance, and resilience. The analysis focuses on how dimensions such as institutional trust, social solidarity, and inclusion shape the capacity of societies to absorb, adapt to, and transform in response to internal and external shocks. Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining empirical data from recent sociological surveys, policy documents, and academic literature. The findings highlight a set of structural vulnerabilities, including low levels of institutional trust, identity-based polarization, and social fragmentation, which undermine societal cohesion and resilience. At the same time, the paper identifies emerging resilience mechanisms, such as community-level social capital and processes of Europeanization. The paper argues that societal cohesion functions as a key mediating variable between governance and resilience, influencing social stability and the effectiveness of crisis responses.