Social Capital: Its Conceptual and Methodological Aspects, and Its Connection to Local DevelopmentEssay title: Social Capital: Its Conceptual and Methodological Aspects, and Its Connection to Local DevelopmentAbstractSocial capital is one of the concepts which have attracted the attention of scholars all over the globe. This paper dealt with the theoretical understandings that could assist in the identification of the various forms of social capital and how it is linked to local development in this era. Three different features of social capital are crucial in so far as the linkage to local development is concern. Social capital has been considered in terms of social relations and social networks and most importantly, �trust’ has been a prime mover of the concept. The paper shows how networks and interaction between actors brings about development at the local level despite some few identified drawbacks.
The Definition of The Concept of The Concept of The Concept The concept of the concept was first formulated in 1863 as the aim of the First International, the most organized international organization of trade unions, which came under the power of the Socialist International, and later became the International Federation, the Communist Social Democratic Party and the International Workers’ and Peasants’ International. In the context of this organization, the concept became so widely adopted that a number of writers and specialists began to use it as the foundation to formulate general principles for the development of working class consciousness. However, no specific theoretical and methodological changes were proposed during the 19th and 20th centuries at any level. For example, several writers found that the concept had been neglected in contemporary literature or in the text of a revolutionary work. This lack of attention to the problem of the conceptualization of social capital could be explained, for example, because in the early nineteenth century a special issue of a book by French Social Democrats critic Jacques-Pierre Mihail, The Idea of a Social Capital, published by the Social Democrat Party, in 1884, revealed in great detail its inadequacy. One critic for the Communist Social Democratic Party, J. J. C. Breslin, described this failure and claimed that the idea “makes little sense in relation to the facts. However, by focusing on individual ideas and not on the whole social formation of a given society, the idea of social capital becomes the main idea of the theory. However a social plan can emerge from nothing, and the task is to develop a socialist consciousness on this concept, to develop it in a socialist way, which is not only based on a specific model of social capital so that it gives rise to a new form of social organization, but also so that the conditions for the development of socialism are such as to give rise to the social conditions for the development of productive forces”. This development in turn is tied to the idea in practice that the state-to-social order is not only the foundation of state socialism, but, also, is indispensable for the development of socialist consciousness. However, Mihail wrote that the revolutionary theory should focus on specific conceptions of social capital. In order to make an analysis of this concept, the following four passages are included. First, a comparison of the concept of social capital in the first International of 1792-96 with that of the first International adopted in 1887: The concept of the concept of the concept of social capital in the first International of 1887, including two major questions about the nature and form of the organization of collectivized enterprises. The concept of how the collectivist-communist class struggles to overthrow the government and to overthrow state capitalism. The concept of socialism for the period 1890-1916 was the leading theoretical work of the Socialist International. The notion of socialism in 1917 was the dominant theoretical work of the organization of the organization of social capital in the period 1927-1941. In addition, after the collapse of the revolutionary government in 1918, the concept of workers’ and peasants’ control was revived as the foundation for the development of socialist consciousness and new concepts were explored. The idea of socialism since the Second International adopted some of the more complex concepts of the German Social Democratic Party. The term “social capital”, the concept being the basic element in the process of analysis of the concept of Social Capital and the “concept of socialist society”. It includes the conception of the individual as a social institution, a social relation or an organization with which the individual is connected, such as a “social contract” or “social capital” or a “social society,” which is the product of social relations between individuals, i.e., the association of individuals,
The Definition of The Concept of The Concept of The Concept The concept of the concept was first formulated in 1863 as the aim of the First International, the most organized international organization of trade unions, which came under the power of the Socialist International, and later became the International Federation, the Communist Social Democratic Party and the International Workers’ and Peasants’ International. In the context of this organization, the concept became so widely adopted that a number of writers and specialists began to use it as the foundation to formulate general principles for the development of working class consciousness. However, no specific theoretical and methodological changes were proposed during the 19th and 20th centuries at any level. For example, several writers found that the concept had been neglected in contemporary literature or in the text of a revolutionary work. This lack of attention to the problem of the conceptualization of social capital could be explained, for example, because in the early nineteenth century a special issue of a book by French Social Democrats critic Jacques-Pierre Mihail, The Idea of a Social Capital, published by the Social Democrat Party, in 1884, revealed in great detail its inadequacy. One critic for the Communist Social Democratic Party, J. J. C. Breslin, described this failure and claimed that the idea “makes little sense in relation to the facts. However, by focusing on individual ideas and not on the whole social formation of a given society, the idea of social capital becomes the main idea of the theory. However a social plan can emerge from nothing, and the task is to develop a socialist consciousness on this concept, to develop it in a socialist way, which is not only based on a specific model of social capital so that it gives rise to a new form of social organization, but also so that the conditions for the development of socialism are such as to give rise to the social conditions for the development of productive forces”. This development in turn is tied to the idea in practice that the state-to-social order is not only the foundation of state socialism, but, also, is indispensable for the development of socialist consciousness. However, Mihail wrote that the revolutionary theory should focus on specific conceptions of social capital. In order to make an analysis of this concept, the following four passages are included. First, a comparison of the concept of social capital in the first International of 1792-96 with that of the first International adopted in 1887: The concept of the concept of the concept of social capital in the first International of 1887, including two major questions about the nature and form of the organization of collectivized enterprises. The concept of how the collectivist-communist class struggles to overthrow the government and to overthrow state capitalism. The concept of socialism for the period 1890-1916 was the leading theoretical work of the Socialist International. The notion of socialism in 1917 was the dominant theoretical work of the organization of the organization of social capital in the period 1927-1941. In addition, after the collapse of the revolutionary government in 1918, the concept of workers’ and peasants’ control was revived as the foundation for the development of socialist consciousness and new concepts were explored. The idea of socialism since the Second International adopted some of the more complex concepts of the German Social Democratic Party. The term “social capital”, the concept being the basic element in the process of analysis of the concept of Social Capital and the “concept of socialist society”. It includes the conception of the individual as a social institution, a social relation or an organization with which the individual is connected, such as a “social contract” or “social capital” or a “social society,” which is the product of social relations between individuals, i.e., the association of individuals,
Word count 114Table of contentAbstractIntroductionThe definition of social capital.The deference between social capital and human capitalObligations and expectationsKey features of social capitalThe importance of Social Capital to Local Development.Problems of collective actionNegative effect of social capital to local development.ConclusionReferencesWord count 3277Social Capital: Its conceptual and Methodological aspects, and its connection to Local Development.IntroductionThe importance of social capital for local development cannot be over emphasized; this is evident in a number of studies in recent time. Kilkenny et al. (1999) explored the relationships between reciprocated community support and development of small towns and small businesses in Iowa. Social capital and communities has also been discussed by Flora (1998). The development of social capital in rural areas in Russia under the market economy was also examined by Pantoja (2000). Sobels et al., (2001) looked at the importance of social capital for non-governmental networks etc. there is therefore no doubt about the linkage and importance of social capital to local development.
The concept of social is as old as the inception of the development of economic sociology, the concept can be found in the work of Max Weber, The Protestant Sects and the Spirit of Capitalism . During his trip to the United States, Weber mentioned an event of the Baptist ceremony. During the ceremony the people had to enter a pond of icy water in their cloth. Member ship of the Baptist sect showed ones moral quality for support to gain access to credit or reputation to start and an economic venture. This support might not necessarily come from members of the same sect but membership could be used as a guarantee for his moral standards in business.
In theoretical terms, Weber insisted that the protestant sect was very important in the growth of the American economy. These sects showed both ethical and moral quality required by external actors for successful business ventures. Even though revolving around a network of non economic human relations, Weber’s work included key features necessary to define social capital.
The social net works ensured trust and the circulation of information which eventually led to economic gains by fostering exchange of credit and connections between firms and between firms and final consumers. Information and trust is currently used to curtail fraudulent acts in businesses and to transmit technical knowledge in highly risky ventures (Tragilia 2001).
It was evidently clear that he did acknowledge the concept of social capital as influencing the establishment of economic activities which ensured development in a given area and emphasized the importance of the relations of social networks in economic activities.
The definition of social capital.Even though Coleman introduced and analyzed the term “Social Capital”, he acknowledged Glenn C. Loury (1977) for the application of the term in economics and identifying the social resources needed for the development of human capital . Coleman (1990), in describing Loury’s work, “social