Building social capital in a divided city: the potential of events

Abstract

It is widely held that social capital can help build sustainable communities, yet researchers agree that further research is needed to fully understand the social dimensions of sustainable development. In event settings, understanding how social capital is formed remains limited. This paper addresses this issue by examining the extent to which the UK City of Culture 2013 (CoC13) succeeded in building social capital in post-conflict Derry/Londonderry. The authors adopted a case study approach and mixed qualitative methods in the form of in-depth interviews and focus groups. The findings suggest that CoC13 helped to generate both bonding and bridging social capital, however, while intra community bonds were strengthened, exclusivity was also fostered. More positive were the examples of bridging capital cultivated across communities, particularly between young attendees, and between event organisers, with cooperation building trust and goodwill between volunteers. Some of the cross community relationships developed have been sustained. However, the lack of legacy planning has meant that the long-term social goals have not been met. In summary, the study suggests that in a post conflict society, events can help build social capital. However, in the absence of legacy planning, the benefits gained may soon evaporate.

Keywords:

• Events
• political conflict
• social capital
• sustainable development
• legacy
• Northern Ireland

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adrian Devine

Dr. Adrian Devine, based at Ulster University, Northern Ireland, has received two Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence for his research into inter-organisational relationships and managing cultural diversity. His current research interests include the social and political impacts of events and the use of artificial intelligence in an event context.

Bernadette Quinn

Dr. Bernadette Quinn is a senior lecturer at the Dublin Institute of Technology. She has written extensively about arts festivals, being interested in the roles that they play in transforming places and shaping identities. Heritage studies and gender issues are further interests. She has held External Examining roles at a number of third level institutions in Ireland and the UK. Bernadette sits on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events and the Irish Journal of Arts Management & Cultural Policy. Bernadette is widely published in leading international tourism and event journals and in edited collections.