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Social capital, governance and local communities. SAI 34 th Annual Conference University of Limerick 10-13 May 2007 Eileen.Humphreys@ul.ie. Research on social capital. Study (2003 fieldwork) …. Test / develop means of measurement
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Social capital, governance and local communities SAI 34th Annual Conference University of Limerick 10-13 May 2007 Eileen.Humphreys@ul.ie Eileen Humphreys, HSyRC, Dept. Sociology, UL
Research on social capital • Study (2003 fieldwork) …. • Test / develop means of measurement • Types and variations in social capital .. urban neighbourhoods • Civic perspective … spatial … contested “The stocks of social trust, norms and networks which people can draw on to solve common problems” (Putnam, 1995) Eileen Humphreys, HSyRC, Dept. Sociology, UL
Policy context & interest • Policy interest …. • EU, World Bank, OECD … • NESF 2003, TF on Active Citizenship 2006 … NDP 2007-2013 • Themes …. • Social capital, prosperity …. Good governance • Social capital in public policy … • Direct (NGOs & volunteering) .. • Indirect (conditions) • Socio-economic / structural factors … • Planning …. neighbourhoods … • Institutional arrangements (decentralised structures …) • Institutional ….. community development …. partnerships • Targeting disadvantage, coordination, “fast tracking” funding.. • Local governance … “Cohesion” structures … county level Eileen Humphreys, HSyRC, Dept. Sociology, UL
Study neighbourhoods 2002 (CSO) Eileen Humphreys, HSyRC, Dept. Sociology, UL
Bridging & linking SC … weak Policy-induced structures may help but … Well-connected get better connected .. Grass-roots … remain unconnected .. Not embedded .. Attitudes of trust .. Some very distant … disadvantaged areas More affluent areas .. structures More of the same won’t work… ‘Cohesion’ … more confusion but good for some … Identity & profile of LDSIP (partnership) structures Focus on conditions Facilities / services in communities … Political opportunity structure (decentralised) Conclusions Eileen Humphreys, HSyRC, Dept. Sociology, UL
Evidence of ‘institutional void’ in local governance Revisit notions of participative & representative democracy Dependency on small elite group … overused and .. ‘Tinkering’ v. addressing issue .. weak democratic local structures… Delivering into local communities (LA / local agency competence)… Planning function… Housing … How to achieve a wider range of participation? Changing structures … embed in wider social networks … What incentives for participation .. What changes for local communities and when? What issues? Structures + culture of participation Information & expertise The 1% solution (Demos, UK; TF Active Citizenship)?? Implications Eileen Humphreys, HSyRC, Dept. Sociology, UL