France Première Moral and Civic Education

1. Cohesion and diversity

Republican values and social cohesion · The Republic and the Nation

• Social Bonds: How People Are Tied Together – A social bond is a tie that links a person to others and gives support and belonging. We have bonds of family, of friendship, of work and of shared citizenship. Durkheim described two kinds of solidarity: mechanical (people are alike, as in a small village) and organic (people differ and depend on each other, as in a big town). Modern life brings individualisation (more freedom to choose ties) and digital ties (wide but often light). Ties break through job loss, poverty, discrimination, moving away or conflict. Shared values such as liberty, equality and fraternity, social protection and the fight against discrimination keep a society together.