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The reductionist new materialism gripping contemporary political science understanding of preference formation is critiqued in the case of the monetary union in Europe. Contemporary comparative political economy counters to explanation based on interests, ideas, or institutions are not complete alternatives. Effective accounts of preference formation require exploration of factor interaction through a focus on the fundamental preferences over potential courses of prestrategic action. The author proposes a framework of basic postulates to deduce key features of the process of preference formation. Application of this framework to the case of the European Monetary Union describes the inadequacy of new material approaches in the cases of France, Germany & Great Britain. Preference formation is concluded to not be primarily about how institutions structure action but about how other factors induce preference change. References. J. Harwell

Recent findings show an apparent erosion in the United States over the post-war years of 'social capital' understood as the propensity of individuals to associate together on a regular basis, to trust one another, and to engage in community affairs. This article examines the British case for

similar trends, finding no equivalent erosion. It proposes explanations for the resilience of social capital in Britain, rooted in educational reform, the transformation of the class structure, and government policy. It concludes by drawing some general lessons from the British case that stress the importance of the distributive dimensions of social capital and the impact that governments

can have on it.

Recent findings show an apparent erosion in the United States over the post-war years of 'social capital' understood as the propensity of individuals to associate together on a regular basis, to trust one another, and to engage in community affairs. This article examines the British case for similar trends, finding no equivalent erosion. It proposes explanations for the resilience of social capital in Britain, rooted in educational reform, the transformation of the class structure, and government policy. It concludes by drawing some general lessons from the British case that stress the importance of the distributive dimensions of social capital and the impact that governments can have on it. (British Journal of Political Science / FUB)