Introduction

This chapter seeks to place intergenerational practice (IP) within the context of recent social policy developments aimed to establish, or to strengthen, social cohesion at local and national levels. To do this, it begins by looking at the nature of IP and its place in the context of national social policy developments, particularly those around ‘community’ and ‘cohesion’. It goes on to outline the ways in which interest in and support for IP have developed over the last 50 years or so before considering the potential benefits of IP, together with an assessment of how these may contribute to achieving greater community and social cohesion. Finally, some of the opportunities and challenges in evaluating IP outcomes within this context are discussed. A wide range of practical national and international case studies is included to illustrate and to develop some of the main points, particularly around the engagement of IP with the ‘harder conversations’ of cohesion – such as those concerning equality and poverty.

The chapter's discussion concludes that the evidence base for this level of engagement does exist, but that IP requires closer alignment with broader social programmes addressing some of the more intransigent socioeconomic issues.

Background

Rein (1994) has attributed intergenerational solidarity primarily to a sense of identity and belonging; the term ‘solidarity’ reflects a feeling of togetherness that is developed from close family ties and provides a basis for identification. This in turn leads to a willingness to provide mutual assistance. Spicker (2003) argues that Rein is mistaken. Mutual assistance is not only dependent on identification; the ties of solidarity are also the ties of mutual support.

Intergenerational relationships, and what is referred to as the intergenerational contract, are governed by rules, norms, conventions, practices and biology, with the ‘contract’ being implicit rather than arrived at through individual negotiation. Some people have also used the term ‘social compact’ to articulate the concept of intergenerational interdependence (Kingson et al, 1997; Henkin and Kingson, 1998/99).