Mapping Social Cohesion: The Scanlon Foundation Surveys 2016

This report presents the findings of the ninth Scanlon Foundation Mapping Social Cohesion survey, conducted across Australia in July-August 2016, in the weeks immediately after the federal election. 1,500 adults were surveyed regarding social cohesion, immigration, asylum seekers and resettlement, attitudes to Muslim immigration, multiculturalism, experience of discrimination, social and institutional trust, participation in voluntary work, trust, economic concerns, and democracy. The findings are compared across generations and across previous years of the survey. In contrast to many current commentators, the survey's findings suggest stability rather than significant change in opinion. However, there are emerging signs of increased pessimism, with relatively high levels of negativity towards Muslims, an increase in the proportion of people experiencing racial and religious discrimination, and concern at the failure of the political system