Is social cohesion important for urban security? Can it help prevent violent extremism? In the current global climate of anxiety about security, this Global Frictions panel discussion will explore the critical question of how social cohesion can contribute to safety in the Australian and global context. Social cohesion has been described as “the willingness of members of a society to cooperate with each other in order to survive and prosper.” The question of why and how societies “hold together” and how conflict can arise when they don’t have been a key concern throughout human history. Social cohesion became a major focus in international policy in response to the fragmentation caused by globalisation from the 1990s. Recently the Victorian government set aside resources and funding to focus on social cohesion as well as its potential link to violent extremism. This panel discussion will explore some of the complex linkages between these phenomena. Do we know enough about cohesion to understand how it can contribute to violence prevention? What types of cohesion help prevent which types of violence? Can too much cohesion stifle diversity and contribute to exclusion and violence? What are the policy and practical implications of focusing on social cohesion as a crucial part of urban security? A range of panellists from different sectors of society will grapple with this urgent modern-day challenge.