Social Capital and Community

1. Social Capital and Community

2. The Planning Process • Identify the problem: You cannot solve something if you do not know what the problem is. Ensure you have identified the real problem, not an effect of another problem. One method is the "five why's." You ask why five times. By the time you get to the fifth why, you should have found the ultimate cause of the problem.

3. Problems • Simple • Compound • Complex • Wicked - incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements; and solutions to them are often difficult to recognize as such because of complex interdependencies.

4. Step 2 • Gather information: Investigate the problem and uncover any other hidden effects that the problem may have caused.

5. Step 3 • Develop courses of action: Notice that courses is plural. For every problem there are usually several possible courses of action. Identify as many as you can. There are always at least two: fix it or don't fix it. Brainstorming with your team will normally generate the most and best courses of action

6. Step 4 • . Analyze and compare courses of action: Rank the courses of action as to their effectiveness. Some actions may fix other problems, while others may cause new problems.

7. Step 5 • Make a decision: Select the best course of action to take. • Make a plan: Use the planning tool covered in the first part of the section. Implement the plan: Execute the plan.

8. Core Concept • The central thesis of social capital theory is that 'relationships matter'. • The central idea is that 'social networks are a valuable asset'. • Interaction enables people to build communities, to commit themselves to each other, and to knit the social fabric.

9. Core Concepts • A sense of belonging and the concrete experience of social networks (and the relationships of trust and tolerance that can be involved) can, it is argued, bring great benefits to people.

10. Community Capacity • Depends on • Characteristics of the community • Characteristics of the community building process • Characteristics of the community building process organizers

14. Why Does it Matter? • Social capital allows citizens to resolve collective problems more easily… People often might be better off if they cooperate, with each doing there share. • Social capital greases the wheels that allow communities to advance smoothly. • Widening our awareness of the many ways in which our fates are linked

15. Class Discussion • Social capital is a core concept in business, economics, organizational behavior, political science, and sociology, defined as the advantage created by a person's location in a structure of relationships. • However, social capital has also been defined as the resources available to one through the networks that they hold.

16. Clusters • Social capital should be considered in terms of three clusters: structural, relational and cognitive • Structural a person’s ability to make weak and strong ties to others in a community • Relational – character of the connection such as trust, business, political • Cognitive – the communication aspect means sharing some context between the parties

17. Characteristics • Social capital is a product of "civic engagement“ • But, social capital is not equally available to all persons • The value of social capital depends on the status of the person engaged in the network

18. Measurement • There is no widely held consensus on how to measure social capital • This has resulted in different metrics for different functions. In measuring political social capital, it is common to take the sum of society’s membership of its groups. • Groups with higher membership (such as political parties) contribute more to the amount of capital than groups with lower membership

19. Capital & Community • Social capital depends on an already functioning community • There are arguments of many theorists who believe that social capital leads to exclusion rather than to a stronger civil society in dying communities • The concept of social capital in a Chinese social context has been closely linked with the concept of guanxi?

20. How People Participate • Manipulation • Therapy • Informing • Placation • Partnership • Delegated power • Citizen control - Community Based Organization

22. Social Capital • What is it? • Social capital has many different characteristics • Interactive • Based around groups of people • Requires united front and mutual understanding • “Features of social organization, such as networks, norms, and trust, that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit. Social capital enhances the benefits of investment in physical and human capital.” (p. 32) • How to get it? • Works by enhancing community relationships • People must be able to work together to achieve a common goal • Takes practicality, acceptance, adaptability, and responsibility • Improve communication within and outside the community

23. Bonding and Bridging • Bonding Social Capital-“connections between individuals and groups with similar backgrounds.” (p. 61) • Based on factors such as class, ethnicity, gender, family relationships, or other social connections. • Bridging Social Capital- “connects diverse groups within the community to each other and to groups outside the community.” (p. 61) • Usually ties are just for one specific purpose • Bridging capital brings people together who wouldn’t normally be together and creates a diverse viewpoint.

24. Bridging and Bonding Bridging Social Capital Social Typology: What is going on? Inclusion (horizontal ties within the community; diverse horizontal and vertical ties to outside.) Conflict with outside or internal factionalism Bonding Social Capital Clientelism (internal and external ties are mainly vertical) Apathy: Extreme Individualism

25. Bridging and Bonding Bridging Social Capital Social Typology: What is going to happen? Locally initiated change driven by community defined goals, with links to external resources Community resists externally initiated change or infighting negates community change efforts Bonding Social Capital Community change dominated by local or extra-local bosses or power elite Wealthy solve problems with financial capital; the poor have few options.

26. Entrepreneurial Social Infrastructure • E.S.I = Really Good • Definition of E.S.I- “measurable form of community action” • This term basically refers to a town that has both high bridging and bonding • How is it different from Social Capital? • Can be changed through a collective effort put forth by the community…which is why it’s called entrepreneurial. • It is easier to change the community involvement than the community trust. • Focuses on the outcome of diversity, not the presence of it. For example, diversity brings out the willingness to consider more alternatives, and this is key to ESI.

27. Alternatives • One problem that many communities have is not being willing to “agree to disagree” • The most successful communities are made up of people that can discuss their various points of view. They might sometimes disagree, but maintain respect for the opinions of others. • Fairness, organization, and civility all key factors • Communities not willing to accept controversy struggle because nothing ever gets done and there is always tension. • Community media (like local newspapers) can be a good tool to help the situation, but can also make situation worse.

28. Inclusive and Diverse Networks • Good qualities of Social Networks: • De-personalization of politics • Politics must involve the issues and not personalities • Development of extra-community linkages • Participation is everything! Successful communities take examples from other communities, seek out resources from the local and state levels, and participate on regional planning commissions . They also take advantage of grants. • Example: Decatur County, Kansas • Diverse community leadership • Everything can’t fall on one person…if this is the case, then everyone isn’t involved • Newcomers can benefit the community • Approaches to involving excluded groups • Personal invitations • Liaisons to excluded groups can help them get organized and motivated

29. Resource Mobilization • Resources must be accessible! This applies to public and private resources • Successful communities have citizens that all contribute financial resources when there is a need…this can be in proportion to their income level.

30. Capital Interactions • Sustainability can be achieved by relying on more than one form of capital. • When there are multiple forms of capital, they can work together to produce better results. • Ex: Increasing social capital reduces transaction costs…and the result of this is that other resources are made to be more efficient. • Ex: High School comparison…school vouchers? • Environment is an important form of capital.

31. Civic Involvement in America • Civic Involvement in America is drastically less than it was 30 to 50 years ago…as much as 25%-50% less • Examples of clubs that have seen a decline in membership are the Elks club, PTAs, Red Cross, and recreational sport leagues. • There isn’t a specific reason for this decline… • Peaked in the progressive area • Depression and WWII caused people to band together • Increase in TV watching and work hours

32. A Community Outlook • “It is the actions of people that transmit culture and legacy. It is people who must determine a community’s development options, make decisions, and take action.” (p. 51) • City of “Solidale”…an excellent example of abundant social capital • Library, industrial park, community center, factory • People who are willing to give to their community • “You can’t take it with you” • People who are willing to work for their community • People get involved in community organizations • Citizens actively involved in drawing businesses to town and making the town a better place to live

33. Summing it up… • Building social capital is vitally important to the well-being of a community! • Two types of social capital: Bridging and Bonding • Bridging = ties diverse groups together within or outside a community • Bonding = making multiple connections with individuals and groups from similar backgrounds • ESI enhanced when both are high • Some important issues: • Diverse viewpoints…and agreeing to disagree • Good social networks • Resource mobilization • Capital Interactions

34. Sources: • Rural Communities: Legacy and Change. Flora, Cornelia Butler and Flora, Jan L. 2nd Edition. Westview Press; 2004.