The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence

Drawing on multicultural theory, social capital theory, and sustainability theory, this paper explores social sustainability in a multicultural context. A two-stage research design was employed, consisting of a systematic literature review and interview-based text analysis. In the first stage, 210 p...

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Main Author: Qianqian Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Sociology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1557463/full
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author Qianqian Fan
author_facet Qianqian Fan
author_sort Qianqian Fan
collection DOAJ
description Drawing on multicultural theory, social capital theory, and sustainability theory, this paper explores social sustainability in a multicultural context. A two-stage research design was employed, consisting of a systematic literature review and interview-based text analysis. In the first stage, 210 papers were systematically reviewed. By extracting conceptual elements, new constructs of micro-level social inclusion, individual social capital, and individual social sustainability were defined. A preliminary social sustainability model—encompassing social inclusion, social capital, and social sustainability—was proposed. Relationship-focused research addressed gaps in existing literature, revealing interactions among these constructs and spurring refinements to the preliminary model. In the second stage, 130 short interview videos (totaling 173 participants) were analyzed. Empirical evidence from these interviews confirms that micro-level social inclusion and individual social capital positively affect social sustainability. The results of this paper are derived from a systematic study of the literature, and the results are verified by the conclusion of interview text analysis. This paper presents an innovative viewpoint by foregrounding micro-level social inclusion and individual social capital in daily life as drivers of social sustainability. Findings demonstrate that micro-level social inclusion fosters individual social capital, which, in turn, is a potent force behind social sustainability. The study thus offers a new research agenda, expands the field of individual social capital research, and provides practical and policy insights for further research and implementation.
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spelling doaj-art-c4145d0f15dc4b0ea0c33ab01d35e0362025-08-20T03:47:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-05-011010.3389/fsoc.2025.15574631557463The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidenceQianqian FanDrawing on multicultural theory, social capital theory, and sustainability theory, this paper explores social sustainability in a multicultural context. A two-stage research design was employed, consisting of a systematic literature review and interview-based text analysis. In the first stage, 210 papers were systematically reviewed. By extracting conceptual elements, new constructs of micro-level social inclusion, individual social capital, and individual social sustainability were defined. A preliminary social sustainability model—encompassing social inclusion, social capital, and social sustainability—was proposed. Relationship-focused research addressed gaps in existing literature, revealing interactions among these constructs and spurring refinements to the preliminary model. In the second stage, 130 short interview videos (totaling 173 participants) were analyzed. Empirical evidence from these interviews confirms that micro-level social inclusion and individual social capital positively affect social sustainability. The results of this paper are derived from a systematic study of the literature, and the results are verified by the conclusion of interview text analysis. This paper presents an innovative viewpoint by foregrounding micro-level social inclusion and individual social capital in daily life as drivers of social sustainability. Findings demonstrate that micro-level social inclusion fosters individual social capital, which, in turn, is a potent force behind social sustainability. The study thus offers a new research agenda, expands the field of individual social capital research, and provides practical and policy insights for further research and implementation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1557463/fullmulticulturalismmicro-level social inclusionindividual social capitalcollective social capitalsocial sustainabilitysocial capital theory
spellingShingle Qianqian Fan
The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence
Frontiers in Sociology
multiculturalism
micro-level social inclusion
individual social capital
collective social capital
social sustainability
social capital theory
title The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence
title_full The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence
title_fullStr The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence
title_full_unstemmed The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence
title_short The promotion of social sustainability by micro-level social inclusion in a multicultural context: literature review and interview evidence
title_sort promotion of social sustainability by micro level social inclusion in a multicultural context literature review and interview evidence
topic multiculturalism
micro-level social inclusion
individual social capital
collective social capital
social sustainability
social capital theory
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1557463/full
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