Social capital is a relatively new concept in the social sciences. In the last twenty or so years it has come to indicate that networks of social relationships represent a 'resource' for both the individual and society, since they provide support for the individual and facilitate collective action. Although this is not an entirely new idea, the more systematic way in which social capital captures such an intuition has created a new theoretical paradigm and helped to develop a series of innovative research programmes in politics, economics, and the study of human well-being. The concept has gained currency beyond academia, extending its influence to political and policy-making circles at local, national, and international levels. It has also affected the way in which social surveys are conceived and public policies assessed. As the idea of social capital has spread, the literature about it has increased exponentially. After twenty years of rapid expansion it is time for a more considered and critical assessment of how the original concept has been adapted and refined, and how successful its application has been. The Handbook of Social Capital intends to do precisely that.It offers a state-of-the-art view of discussions about the concept of social capital and the way in which it has been applied in empirical research. The organization of the Handbook reflects this intention by focusing on conceptual development and analysis in the first part; by identifying two main areas of research in which social capital has favoured the development of new and influential research programmes - political participation in democratic societies, and economic development; and by exploring the more normative and policy oriented consequences of social capital. All chapters comprising the volume were specifically written for the Handbook by some of the main experts in the fields. The book provides authoritative and innovative introduction to the study of social capital.
Social capital's fortune: An introduction by Dario Castiglione and Jan W. van Deth and Guglielmo Wolleb 1
Pt. I Conceptual Issues
Introduction: Conceptual issues in social capital theory by Dario Castiglione 13
1 The two meanings of social capital by Hartmut Esser 22
2 A network theory of social capital by Nan Lin 50
3 Social capital and collective action by T. K. Ahn and Elinor Ostrom 70
4 Trust as a moral value by Eric M. Uslaner 101
5 The nature and logic of bad social capital by Mark F. Warren 122
6 Measuring social capital by Jan W. van Deth 150
7 Social capital as a research programme by Dario Castiglione 177
Pt. II Democratic Politics
Introduction: Social capital and democratic politics by Jan W. van Deth 199
8 Social capital and civic engagement: A comparative perspective by Sigrid Rossteutscher 208
9 Trust and Politics by Ken Newton 241
10 Political institutions and generalized trust by Bo Rothstein and Dietlind Stolle 273
11 Interest groups, social capital, and democratic politics by William A. Maloney 303
12 Neighbourhood politics by Herman Lelieveldt 327
13 Social capital in multicultural societies by Meindert Fennema and Jean Tillie 349
Pt. III Economic Development
Introduction: Social capital and economic development by Guglielmo Wolleb 373
14 Social capital in economics by Domenico Cersosimo and Rosanna Nistico
