Social protection has been theoretically linked with social cohesion and state-building in several agency reports and academic publications with the assumption that it can make a positive contribution towards strengthening social cohesion and building state capacity and legitimacy. To date, there is little knowledge about how these effects have been realised in reality.

This review seeks to identify empirical evidence that can provide a better understanding of the contribution social protection makes towards strengthening social cohesion and building state capacity and legitimacy, and thus seeks to help inform future policy and practice.