Beyond Contact: Social Cohesion and Municipal Legitimacy in Times of Crisis

As cities become more heterogeneous and polarized, local governments face crises that challenge both performance and legitimacy. This study examines how social cohesion and social proximity are associated with satisfaction with municipal performance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the May 2021 intergroup violence in Israel. Using survey data from 944 residents across 23 cities and employing OLS and SEM analyses, we find that social cohesion is consistently associated with higher satisfaction, whereas proximity is associated with satisfaction primarily through cohesion. These findings highlight the social foundations of municipal legitimacy and distinguish between contact and cohesion in crisis governance.