Citation Context

...s paper argues that the Putnam-inspired theory of collective social capital is not able to explain how networks, norms, and trust interact in a process of socio-economic change. It then extends Bourdieu's distinct theory of individual social capital to provide an alternative model. While sociologists have largely adopted a macro-critique of the role of social capital in economic development, questioning its independence from and causal priority over government action (Tarrow 1996; Evans 1996; Fox 1996; Heller 1996; Lam 1996), this paper builds on research that questions its micro-foundations (Beall 2001). It argues that networks, norms, and trust should be treated not as composite stocks, but as independent variables that, , often stand in considerable tension with each other. This analysis proceeds from Portes' (2000) observation that there are two distinct meanings of social capital: as social networks that convey benefits to individuals or families, and as 'stocks' of networks, norms, and trust adhering in larger social units that enable collective action for mutual benefit (see also Harriss 2001; Schuurman 2003: 994). The first, which we might call the , looks at social capital as an uneq...

Citation Context

... conceptualisation of social capital as thespurposive investment in social relationssin pursuit of tangible and material returns.sInstead they reconceive social capital as embedded social resources ( =-=Beall 2001-=- ) orsas social networks (Long 2001), which are dynamic and negotiated, offer bothsenablement and constraint to individual actions and which may reproduce structuralsinequalities ( of class and caste,...