Local Cultural Identity and Social Cohesion among Youth in Multicultural Communities: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Young people in multicultural communities negotiate cultural identity amid migration, globalization, and digital communication, yet the conditions under which local cultural identity strengthens rather than fragments social cohesion remain insufficiently theorized. This integrative review synthesized 38 sources on local cultural identity, social cohesion, intercultural interaction, and youth participation: 13 published between 2016 and 2026 and 25 foundational works from 1973 to 2015, of which six address Indonesia. Sources were selected purposively, without a formal screening log or quality appraisal, and analyzed through thematic synthesis. Four interrelated themes emerged: belonging, recognition, intercultural interaction, and participatory cultural practice. Comparison across sources suggests that local cultural identity supports cohesion when it provides continuity and attachment, is publicly recognized, and is enacted through cooperative activities with shared goals, and that it becomes exclusionary when cultural boundaries are treated as fixed. Indonesian cases from Maluku and Bali illustrate both outcomes, and diversity differs across regions. Young people act as cultural mediators, although digital visibility can simplify culture and intensify disputes over authenticity and ownership. The review proposes a conceptual, heuristic model linking recognition, belonging, participation, interaction, and mutual understanding under safeguards of inclusion and equal dignity. Evidence for the links is uneven, and the model requires empirical validation in varied multicultural settings. Recommendations for schools, communities, and local governments follow from the findings.