Suchergebnisse

Introduces a collection of essays devoted to shedding light on those facets of social & political institutions that influence the development of social capital. Focusing on the attitudinal components of the social capital complex, it is argued that a complete understanding of the concept of social capital requires a better understanding of society- & institutional-centered approaches. An overview of social capital touches on its benefits, consequences, & conditions that facilitate its growth or destruction. Three reasons why this volume is addressing the factors behind social capital's generation or destruction are offered: (1) It allows a confrontation with one of the major shortcomings in current social capital research. (2) Developing a second causal mechanism for social capital generation will provide an answer to one of the main critiques against current social capital concepts. (3) A full examination of the origins & nature of social capital will allow conclusions to be drawn on its rise & decline. The collection's themes are identified & the contributions briefly summarized. 34 References. J. Zendejas

Evaluates the current state of research on the sources of social capital's attitudinal aspects. Following an overview of the debate on social capital's sources, attention turns to detailing two specific debates, highlighting the work of Robert Putnam (eg, 1993). It is suggested that while historical factors drive the formation of generalized trust & the forms & density of social interactions, current social & political institutions & various levels of government are also involved. Demonstrated is that the relevance of voluntary institutions as the key measure of social capital has been challenged & that the assumption regarding the efficacy of such associations in producing generalized norms & values such as trust should be handled gingerly. Further, institutional analysis of social capital sheds light on the importance of looking beyond organizations & social interactions for mechanisms that generate, foster, or disturb the development of generalized trust & norms of reciprocity. In addition, family is seen to play an important role in generalized & cooperative attitudes & perhaps societal engagement. Social capital is also found to be embedded deeply in the three-way state-family-civil society relationship. 94 References. J. Zendejas

Concludes a volume devoted to identifying the development of generalized trust & other attitudinal elements of social capital. Discussion centers on contributions that address society- & institution-centered approaches. Regarding the former, evidence suggests that the role of associations in developing civic attitudes, norms, & the capacity to solve collective action problems has been exaggerated in the literature. For those essays looking into institutions, overall, it is seen that, in addition to path-dependent modes, contemporary dimensions of institutions & government behavior also explain variations or patterns of social capital. 40 References. J. Zendejas

"Wer sich gegenwärtig mit Themen wie bürgerschaftlichem Engagement, freiwilligen Vereinigungen oder Drittem Sektor beschäftigt, kommt kaum umhin, sich mit dem Begriff des 'sozialen Kapitals' auseinanderzusetzen, der seit den 1990er Jahren nahezu in allen westlichen Ländern bis hin zu den supranationalen Spitzeninstitutionen wie z.B. der Weltbank Furore macht. 'Social capital' oder 'capital social ' - Begriffsspielerei als Gesellschaftsanalyse. Soziales Kapital als sozialwissenschaftliches und gesellschaftspolitisches Problem lautet der Titel des vierten Beitrags, der jenen euphorischen Diskurs über soziales Kapital in Deutschland aufgreift. Dieser Diskurs rekurriert nahezu ausschließlich auf den Sozialkapital-Ansatz von Robert D. Putnam (z.B. 1995, 2000, 2001), in dem freiwillige Vereinigungen bzw. secondary associations vor allem auf der lebensweltlichen Ebene als maßgebliche Produzenten 'sozialen Kapitals' und somit jener sozial-moralischen Ressourcen verstanden werden, auf die moderne Gesellschaften für ihren inneren Zusammenhalt mehr denn je angewiesen seien. Um den Ansatz von Putnam einer systematischen Kritik zu unterziehen, wird die Sozialtheorie von Pierre Bourdieu und der ihr immanente Begriff von 'sozialem Kapital' herangezogen (vgl. z.B. Bourdieu, 1983, 1996). Der kritische Impetus liegt in diesem Zusammenhang vor allem auf der Bedeutung von freiwilligen Vereinigungen als Orten der (Re-)Produktion sozialer Ungleichheiten - eine Betrachtungsweise, die im laufenden Sozialkapital-Diskurs in Deutschland bislang weitgehend ausgeblendet wurde." (Autorenreferat)