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This paper introduces the concept of social capital as a valuable social resourcewhich is accumulated and developed via activities of civil society organizations: through reciprocal relationships as well as through relations with the domain of political power. Civil society, as the institutional actor of political participation, is in a relationship with social capital, which, to a great extent, improves the political, economic and cultural aspects of societies – those with consolidated democracy and institutions, as well as post communist societies with nonconsolidated democracy. Strengthening and development of civil society has a positive impact on the strengthening and development of social capital and vice versa. On the other hand, social capital lays a solid foundation and a base for the growth and strengthening of civil society, thus raising citizens' awareness about political participation which is an indispensable ingredient of the development of democracy. By depicting norms, networking and trust, as well as by distinguishing bonding from bridging social capital, this paper is going to portray the subject matter of social capital which is "utilized" by the citizens' and stakeholders' effi cient collaboration, thus contributing to democratic development. The stability of developed social capital facilitates the development of political participation and enhances democratic development.

Foreword -- Daya Kishan Thussu AcknowledgementsI. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVESAn Overview of New Media in India -- Sunetra Sen Narayan and Shalini Narayanan Theoretical Perspectives: Issues in the Indian New Media Environment -- Jatin Srivastava and Enakshi Roy Political Economy of (New) Media in India: An Institutional Perspective -- B P Sanjay II. POLITICS, GOVERNMENT AND THE MARKETSocial Media and Indian Politics in the Global Context: Promise and Implications -- Awais Saleem and Stephen McDowell New Media and Social-Political Movements -- Shalini Narayanan and Anand Pradhan New Media, Governance and Transparency in India -- Abhishek N Singh and P Vigneswara Ilavarasan Regulation of New Media: The Indian Scenario -- Vikram Aditya Narayan and Raka Arya ICT and the Indian Education System: Challenges and Possibilities -- Anubhuti Yadav Brand Promotion on New Media in India -- Jaishri Jethwaney III. HISTORICAL EXCLUSIONSThe Internet in India: Crystallising the Historical Inequalities -- Uma Shankar Pandey Women and the Internet in India: Denial of Access and the Censorship of Abuse -- Geeta Seshu Disability and Social Media in India -- P J Mathew Martin and Sunder Rajdeep Index