The multiple definitions of social capital
Keywords:
Social Capital, Networks, Trust, Resources, Social TheoryAbstract
The concept of social capital has been defined in various ways. These definitions are not only numerous and distinct but, in some cases, opposite and incompatible. This article aims at revising the contributions of three leading authors in this discussion: James Coleman, Pierre Bourdieu, and Nan Lin. In spite of their agreement with the idea of social capital as a resource based on mobilization of social networks, they support divergent perspectives concerning the constitution and allocation of such kind of capital. After exploring these authors’ major arguments, we also discuss the moral neutrality of social capital, its mechanisms of reproduction, and its use in Robert Putnams work, and review a set of critiques toward his approach. Concluding, we point out some possibilities toward a unified definition of social capital.
Downloads
References
ALMOND , Gabriel; VERBA, Sidney (1963), The civicculture:politicalattitudesanddem ocracy in five nations. Princeton, Princeton University Press.
BATESON, Patrick (2000 [1988]), “The biological evolution o f cooperation and trust”, in D. Gambetta (ed.), Trust: m aking an d breaking cooperative relations. Oxford, Department of Sociology, University o f Oxford, pp. 14-30. Disponível em: <http://www.sociology. ox.ac.uk/
papers/trustbook.html>.
BOIX , Carles; PO SN E R , Daniel N . (1998), “Social capital: explaining its origins and effects on government performance”. British Jo u rn al o f Democracy, 28, 4: 686-93.
BOSCHI, Renato Raul (1999), “Descentralização, clientelismo e capital social na governança urbana: comparando Belo Horizonte e Salvador”. Dados, 42,4: 655-90.
BOURDIEU , Pierre (1980), “Le capital social”. Actes de la Recherche en Sciences Sociales, 31: 2-3.
______ . (1983), “Ökonomisches Kapital, kulturelles Kapital, soziales Kapital”, in R. Kreckel (ed.), Soziale Ungleichheiten, Goettingen, O tto Schartz & Co. (Soziale Welt, Sonderheft, 2). pp. 183-98.
______ . (1999), Las form as de capital. Lima, Piedra Azul. [Tradução de Bourdieu (1983)].
COLEMAN , James S. (1988), “Social capital in the creation o f human capital”. American Journal of Sociology, 94, Supplement: S95-S120.
______ . (1990), Foundations o f social theory. Cambridge, Harvard University Press.
DARAÚJO , Maria Celina. (2003), C apital social. Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Zahar Editor.
DASGUPTA, Partha; SERAGELDIN, Ismail (eds.) (1999), Social capital: a multifaceted perspective. Washington, D C , World Bank.
DIAS Jr., Cláudio Santiago (2001), C apital social e violência: um a análise comparada em duas vilas de Belo H orizonte. Dissertação de mestrado. Belo Horizonte, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
DURKHEIM , Émile (1999 [1894]), D a divisão do trabalho social. Santos, SP, Martins Fontes.
FIALHO , Fabrício M . (s. d.), “Considerações sobre o conceito de ‘capital social’ em Comunidade e democracia ’ (manuscrito).
FOLEY, Michael. W.; E DW A R D S , Bob & D IA N I, Mario (2001), “Social capital reconsidered”, in B. Edwards; B. Foley; M . D iani (eds.), Beyond Tocqueville: c iv il society an d the social capita l debate in comparative perspective. Hanover, N H , University Press o f New England, pp.
-80.
GAMBETTA, Diego (2000 [1988]), “Can we trust trust?”, in D . Gambetta (ed.), Trust: m aking and breaking cooperative relations. Oxford, Department o f Sociology, University o f Oxford, pp. 14-30. Disponível em: <http://www.sociology.ox.ac.uk/papers/trustbook.html>.
GRANOVETTER, Mark S. (1973), “The strength o f weak ties’ American Jo u rn al o f Sociology, 78: 1360-80.
______. (1985), “Economic action and social structure: the problem o f embeddedness”. American Jo u rn al o f Sociology, 3:481-510.
HARDIN , Russell (2002), Trust & trustworthiness. New York, Russell Sage Foundation.
HELLIWELL, John R (1996), Economic growth an d social capital in A sia. Cambridge, National Bureau o f Economic Research (N B E R Working Paper, 5.470).
JACKM A N , Robert W.; M IL LER , Ross A. (1998), "Social capital and politics”. A nnual Review o f .Political Science, 1:47-73.
KARNER, Tracy X. (2000), “Social capital”, in E. E Borgatta; R. J. V. Montgomery (eds.), Encyclopedia of Sociology, v. 4. New York, Macmillan, pp. 2637-41.
KNOWLES , Stephen (2002), Does social capital affect foreign a id allocations? Nottingham, Center for Research in Economic Development and International Trade, University o f Nottingham.
LIN, Nan (1999), “Social networks and status attainment”. A nnual Review o f Sociology, 25: 467-87.
______ • (2001a), Social capital: a theory o f social structure an d action. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
______ • (2001b), “Building a network theory o f social capital”, in N. Lin; K. Cook; R. S. Burt (eds.), Social capital: theory and research, New York, Aldine de Gruyter. pp. 3-29.
LIN , Nan; V A U G H N , John C.; ENSEL, Walter M . (1981), “Social resources and occupational status attainment”. Social Forces, 59, 4: 1163-81.
MAUSS, Marcel (1974 [19261), “Ensaio sobre a dádiva: forma e razão da troca nas sociedades arcaicas”. Sociologia e Antropologia, v. II. São Paulo, EPU/ Edusp. pp. 37-184.
MORLINO , Leonardo. (1995), "Italy’s civic divide - Review o f making democracy work: civic traditions in modern Italy, by Robert D . Putnam”.Jo u rn al ofDemocracy, 6, 1: 173-7.
PAXTON, Pamela (2002), “Social capital and democracy: an interdependent relationship”. American Sociological Review, 67: 754-78.
PORTES, Alejandro (1998), “Social capital: its origins and applications in modern Sociology”. A n n u al Review o f Sociology, 24: 1-24.
PORTES, Alejandro; LANDOLT, Patricia (1996), “The downside o f social capital”. American Prospect, 26: 18-21.
PORTES, Alejandro; SENSENBRENNER, Julia (1993), “Embeddedness and immigration: notes on the social determinants of economic action”. American Journ al o f Sociology, 98, 6: 1320-50.
PRATES, Antônio Augusto P. (1997), “Resenha —Making democracy work. Civic traditions in modern Italy”. Teoria & Sociedade, 1: 193-201.
______ • (2001), C apital social e cultura cívica: seus efeitos sobre indicadores de qualidade de vida. Belo Horizonte (Projeto de pesquisa não publicado).
PUTNAM , Robert D . (2000), Bow ling alone: the collapse an d the revival o f American community. New York, Simon & Schuster.
PUTNAM , Robert D.. (2002 [ 1993]), Comunidade e democracia: a experiência da Itá lia moderna. 3. ed. Rio de Janeiro, FGV.
REIS, Bruno P. W. (2003), “Capital social e confiança: questões de teoria e método”. Revista de Sociologia e P olítica, 21: 35-49.
W O O L C O C K , Michael. (1998), “Social capital and economic development: toward a theoretical synthesis and policy framework”. Theory and Society, 27: 151-208.
