Social Capital and Diversity: An Introduction

In: Perspectives on politics: a political science public sphere, Band 1, Heft 1, S. 101-102

Abstract

Introduces two articles from a symposium on social capital & diversity. Although scholars have described social capital as the crowning glory of a liberal society & a necessary element of democracy, the causes & the effects of social capital are complex & morally ambiguous; &, in the case of the US, may even move a nation farther from the democratic ideal. Both articles explore questions of heterogeneity or diversity in social-capital research. Along racial & ethnic lines, high levels of social capital seem to be coupled with certain types of inequality. Racial equality & equality of access may be more important goals than social capital. Both articles call for more research & discussion among scholars on this troubling question. 4 References. L. A. Hoffman