Social Capital Flashcards
(17 cards)
Social capital theory focuses on the extent to which individuals…
Have regular contact with others, beyond the family home.
What are higher levels of social capital often associated with?
Many outcomes ranging from prevention of crime to higher rates of economic growth.
What kind of democracy do low levels of social capital produce?
A non-functioning one as they are lacking trust for political parties and the system.
Where has social capital been used as a way of understanding political disengagement?
Westernised countries, America and Britain.
The concept of social capital is often understood as….
The tendency of individuals to associate together on a regular basis, to trust one another, and to engage in community affairs.
How long ago was Putnam’s article written?
20 years ago
What is Putnam’s article called?
‘Bowling alone: Americas declining social capital’
What three things does Putnam suggest as evidence for a decline in social capital?
Decline of party memberships, voter turnout figures, membership figures for traditional organisations
When does Peter Hall write?
15 years ago
What does Hall look at for evidence of social capital?
Voluntary organisations, charitable endeavours, time budget studies and surveys on social trust
Can what social capital is and what it is not ever be defined? And what does this do to the argument of social capital?
No it can’t and this undermines the argument of social capital
What discrepancies do many who discuss social capital, including Putnam fail to mention?
Substantial discrepancies between levels of social capital found among the working classes and middle classes, and therefore a judgement about the entire countries decline or rise would be hard to assert.
When considering social capital over a period of time what problems arise?
The way we socially engage changes and we can’t compare old forms to new forms of social engagement
Why can’t we argue joining an organisation traditionally and social media are the same levels of social capital?
Social media can connect you to the whole world, traditional organisations to a local group
What explanations does Putnam give for the decline in social capital?
Movement of women into the labour force, mobility, technology and the television.
Why does David halpern argue social capital is so popular for policy makers?
It has a hard nosed economic feel while restating the importance of the social
What does bourdieu argue is a negative of social capital and against Putnam’s theory?
Employs the concept to demonstrate a mechanism for the general reproduction of inequality. Thus points out the wealthy use their “old boys network” to maintain advantages for themselves, their social class and children.
