The Impact of Social Cohesion in a Disaster Context: A Case Study of the 2021 Floods in Germany

Abstract

Social cohesion has been defined in multiple ways by the literature, depending on the disciplinary perspective and context. Existing definitions commonly emphasize trust, solidarity, shared values, and social networks, treating social cohesion as a relatively stable condition. However, there remains a limited understanding of how social cohesion is experienced and constructed, specifically within disaster contexts, and how disasters shape social cohesion over time. This thesis aims to address this gap by researching social cohesion during and after the 2021 floods in Germany among three stakeholder groups: research professionals, field professionals, and affected citizens. The study is guided by the following research questions: How do different stakeholder groups in Germany experience social cohesion during and after a flood disaster? and How do different stakeholder groups in Germany construct the meaning of social cohesion during and after a flood disaster? Using 20 qualitative semi-structured interviews and an abductive thematic analysis, the findings show that social cohesion was experienced through solidarity, trust, social networks, inclusion, willingness to help, shared responsibility, collective identity, place attachment, and the capacity to cooperate. Support emerged through family members, neighbors, volunteers, local communities, organizations, and governmental institutions. The findings further demonstrate that social cohesion operates across micro, meso, and macro levels and plays multiple roles within disaster risk management, including enabling coordination, collective action, resource sharing, and providing emotional support. Simultaneously, tensions, distrust, and inequalities also shaped experiences of social cohesion. Overall, the thesis conceptualizes social cohesion as a dynamic and evolving process rather than a fixed condition.

Popular Abstract

Understanding social cohesion during and after the 2021 floods in Germany.

What is social cohesion, and what role does it play during disasters? While disasters are often associated with physical destruction and technical solutions, they also reshape relationships between people, communities, and institutions.
The study showed that social cohesion played an important role throughout the response and the recovery processes of the flood. Participants described strong feelings of togetherness, solidarity, and mutual support through support provided by their family, neighborhoods, and governmental actors.
On the other hand, this study revealed that social cohesion should not be understood as only a positive phenomenon. Alongside the cooperation, people experienced distrust, conflict, and exclusion because of unequal reconstruction, coordination challenges, and the influence of ideologically motivated groups. Solidarity and conflict were shown to coexist and shape social cohesion throughout the disasters.
The findings further demonstrated that social cohesion has multiple meanings and operates across different levels of society. Participants associated social cohesion with solidarity, trust, social networks, inclusion, willingness to help, shared responsibility, collective identity, place attachment, and the capacity to cooperate during times of crisis. These experiences were not limited to interpersonal relationships but also involved communities, and public institutions.
The research also showed that social cohesion played different roles throughout the disaster. Social cohesion enabled practical coordination and resource sharing while also providing emotional support. This sense of togetherness enabled rapid and collective action, where bottom-up support and volunteer systems were set up after the disaster. However, the study also demonstrates that disasters do not automatically generate social cohesion, as outcomes are continuously shaped through the interaction between solidarity and conflict.
A key finding of the study is that social cohesion should be understood as a dynamic and evolving process rather than a fixed social condition. Many participants described an initial surge of solidarity and collective engagement immediately after the floods. While this often declined during longer-term recovery, some participants reported the development of lasting networks and stronger community ties. Others, however, experienced little or no sense of cohesion. Based on these findings, the thesis proposed a model illustrating the reciprocal relationship between disasters and social cohesion, showing how disasters continuously reshape social relations and vice versa.
As the floods occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants also highlighted how disaster response created opportunities for social interaction and participation at a time marked by restrictions and social isolation. In this sense, the flood response temporarily reactivated forms of solidarity and engagement during the pandemic.
Although this research focuses on the response and recovery phases of the 2021 floods in Germany, the findings highlight the importance of further research into social cohesion across all phases of disaster risk management. Future studies could explore how social cohesion influences prevention and preparedness efforts, as well as examine its role across different disaster contexts, including cascading disasters and across different countries.

• author: Dedecke, Hanne and Okamoto, Suetake
• supervisor: Misse Wester
• organization: Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
• course: VBRM15 20261
• year: 2026
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Technology and Engineering
• keywords: Social Cohesion, Flood Disaster, Disaster Response, Disaster Recovery, 2021 Floods Germany, Disaster Risk Management
• language: English
• id: 9236123
• date added to LUP: 2026-06-12 09:10:27
• date last changed: 2026-06-12 09:10:27