Social Resilience: A Critical Synopsis of Definitions

Abstract

Social resilience is a relatively new concept that has recently attracted researchers in the social sciences. In the 21st century, it is becoming significant in sustainability studies in the context of social well-being and its impact on quality of life. Cultural adherence, informal social networking, local knowledge and belief practices, the social value of relationships and community members, and interdependence all contribute to complex, coherent, and holistic social resilience. This article presents a critical synopsis of definitions of social resilience to comprehend the concept and its key characteristics. After selecting the common definitions, I examined them to identify the keywords and verbs used to define social resilience and its key aspects. Almost all definitions relate to social resilience as the ability or capacity to withstand, recover, and maintain. A description of social resilience following these definitions provides an understanding of social resilience as a multifaceted, dynamic, and complex social construct that extends its scope to individual, group, or community dynamics, adaptability, and a variety of other environmental factors. The synthesis of the definitions supports the concept of an ‘agency-oriented’ framework of social resilience and an interdisciplinary approach to studying social experiences and practices during crises, including the interaction with (social, cultural, political, and economic) environmental factors.