Beyond social capital: A critical approach

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Notes

1 Sociologists have introduced the notion of social capital, among others Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman, and Robert Putnam (see, for brief overviews of these authors' contributions to the development of the concept: Grix 2001; Field 2003; Swain 2003; Farr 2004).

2 Human capital also does not neatly fit the capital metaphor, but contrary to social capital, a large part (but not all) of its benefits is individual, as well as the decision making on investment in human capital. See, for an insightful distinction between human capital and social capital, Table 14.1 in Field et al. (2000).

3 http://www1.worldbank.org/prem/poverty/scapital/home.htm

4 It is important to note that the word “weak” should not be interpreted negatively here, since, paradoxically, the weakness in the ties is the strength of bridging social capital: social relationships are voluntary, continuously leaving open the option of breaking up or changing one relation for another, without social sanctions. They are general and flexible, not specific and rigid.