Social capital
Man kind | 08.04.2004 12:18
Social capital is a well recognised concept in the field of human
development - see for example the Department For International
Development's (DFID) framework for analysing livelihoods; social
capital is often found to be a significant assets in the livelihood
options of people living in poverty.
The DFID definition of social capital higlights its importance in
accessing information:
"Social Capital is a category of livelihood assets. It relates to the
formal and informal social relationships (or social resources) from
which various opportunities and benefits can be drawn by people in
their pursuit of livelihoods."
These resources are developed through investment in:
+ interactions (through work or shared interests) that increase
people's ability to work together;
+ membership of more formal groups in which relationships are by
accepted rules and norms;
+ relationshps of trust that facilitate co-operation, reduce
transactions costs and sometimes help in the development of informal
safety nets amongst the poor.
Critial benefits of social capital are access to information, to
influence or power, and to claims or obligation for support from
others.
development - see for example the Department For International
Development's (DFID) framework for analysing livelihoods; social
capital is often found to be a significant assets in the livelihood
options of people living in poverty.
The DFID definition of social capital higlights its importance in
accessing information:
"Social Capital is a category of livelihood assets. It relates to the
formal and informal social relationships (or social resources) from
which various opportunities and benefits can be drawn by people in
their pursuit of livelihoods."
These resources are developed through investment in:
+ interactions (through work or shared interests) that increase
people's ability to work together;
+ membership of more formal groups in which relationships are by
accepted rules and norms;
+ relationshps of trust that facilitate co-operation, reduce
transactions costs and sometimes help in the development of informal
safety nets amongst the poor.
Critial benefits of social capital are access to information, to
influence or power, and to claims or obligation for support from
others.
Man kind
Homepage:
http://www.livelihoods.org/
Comments
Hide the following 11 comments
Excellent Post
08.04.2004 12:35
Toby
Yeah.
08.04.2004 13:03
Mad Ted
e-mail:
madted@riseup.net
social capital?
08.04.2004 13:18
not a social scientist
i agree with the penguin !
08.04.2004 16:55
rosa
The Forms Of Capital
08.04.2004 17:13
Theo Cuppier
Social Capital theory
08.04.2004 17:19
theo cuppier
capital
08.04.2004 17:25
I haven't seen the concept used to defend the class system, although it can probably be used to do so like pretty much anything else in the hands of those with something to lose.
Notes
(1) Capital = something that is needed for production but is not used up in production.
mr economista
ER>>> SURPLUS VALUE, ANYONE ?
10.04.2004 15:14
. it is often overlooked that Marx always stood against social SYSTEMS, whether they carried the tag of "socialist" or not; that much is clear from his critique of Proudhon in POVERTY OF PHILOSOPHY.
for a better understanding of marxs concept of SURPLUS VALUE (mehrwert), it preoccupies the volumes of DAS KAPITAL 4 5 and 6. (Ha ha ! and you thought there were ony 3 in total !)
MEHRWERT
furthermore, "mr economista"
10.04.2004 15:27
do TRY to read marxs "theories of surplus value". it might be three volumes but if he had time to write it, you DO have time to read it.....
mehrwert
I've read Marx
10.04.2004 16:41
Marx's critique of surplus value is entirely dependent on how that capital is used, basically who 'owns' the means of production. An anarchist collective has labour, land, plant (and within a capitalist society, money). Nobody sells their liberty to anyone else, the surplus value generated by each worker belongs to the worker.
The fact capital can be exploited by capitalists does not change the definition of capital.
mr economista
and by the way . . .
10.04.2004 18:35
If social capital is bad - what are people's thoughts on the Ithica Hours complimentary currency scheme in the US that created a climate of mutual aid amongst members as people discovered they all had skills they could share and did so WITHOUT currency transactions as well as as part of the scheme? Surely a worthwhile acheivement despite its faults?
mr economista