A think-tank report said that government attempts to undertake 'cultural planning' to create social capital were subject to exactly the same problems that led economic and industrial planning to fail. In order for democratic systems to work, they should be limited to co-ordinating certain core political functions. Markets would generate attributes such as trust and non-discrimination, which were necessary to oil the wheels of both commercial and political society.
Source: John Meadowcroft and Mark Pennington, Rescuing Social Capital from Social Democracy, Institute of Economic Affairs (020 7799 8900)
Date: 2007-Nov
Researchers examined the impact of young people's social capital in secondary schools – including their attitudes to diversity; their sense of school belonging; and their access to support networks. Young people with one form of social capital also tended to have another. Social capital and socio-psychological resources were unevenly distributed. Neighbourhood context and family support were important influences.
Source: Peter Stevens, Ruth Lupton, Tamjid Mujtaba and Leon Feinstein, The Development and Impact of Young People's Social Capital in Secondary Schools, Research Report 24, Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning/University of London (020 7612 6291)
Links: Report | Brief | CRWBL press release
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined whether the social capital of individuals in distressed communities could be enhanced by local community development programmes; and, subsequently, whether the employability and employment opportunities of programme participants increased.
Source: Nicholas Miles and Janet Tully, 'Regional development agency policy to tackle economic exclusion? The role of social capital in distressed communities', Regional Studies, Volume 41 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Aug
A report examined the role of neighbourhood management in developing social capital at the neighbourhood level. It discussed the meaning of social capital and how it was used in policy; described the range of activities that could be seen as contributing to social capital at neighbourhood level; explored how their impact could be assessed; and concluded by identifying key lessons and recommendations from three case studies.
Source: Marilyn Taylor, Neighbourhood Management and Social Capital, Research Report 35, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Aug
Researchers identified six key social identities in which people most frequently anchored their sense of belonging – family, friendship, lifestyle choices, nationality, professional identity, and team spirit and shared interests.
Source: Peter Marsh, Simon Bradley, Carole Love, Patrick Alexander and Roger Norham, Belonging, Social Issues Research Centre (01865 262255)
Links: Report | SIRC press release
Date: 2007-Aug
A new book examined the contribution interest groups made to the democratic involvement of citizens. It considered how interest groups were formed, and how they maintained themselves – focusing specifically on the supply-side dimension of group membership.
Source: Grant Jordan and William Maloney, Democracy and Interest Groups: Enhancing participation?, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Aug
A report said that the race equality watchdog should work towards the development of indicators of 'bonding' and 'bridging' social capital at individual and community level.
Source: Adam Coutts, Pedro Ramos Pinto, Ben Cave and Ichiro Kawachi, Social Capital Indicators in the UK, Commission for Racial Equality (020 7939 0000)
Date: 2007-Jul
A study examined how social patterns and processes in small rural places helped to produce distinctive bases for social identities and social cohesion.
Source: Ray Pahl and Malcolm Moseley, Social Capital in Rural Places: A report to Defra, Rural Evidence Research Centre/Birkbeck College/University of London (020 7631 6473)
Date: 2007-Jul
A report examined social capital in the lives of families in low-income neighbourhoods. It concluded that policy-makers should recognize and protect local social capital; and should devise social policy which helped to build social capital in areas where it was lacking, and not destroy it.
Source: Anne Power and Helen Willmot, Social Capital within the Neighbourhood, CASEreport 38, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion/London School of Economics (020 7955 6679)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jun
An article examined the impact of civic culture on the rate of failure in English public services between 2002 and 2004. Low levels of political participation, an 'individualist' political culture, less interpersonal trust, and scant associational life, led to more cases of public service failure.
Source: Rhys Andrews, 'Civic culture and public service failure: an empirical exploration', Urban Studies, Volume 44 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
An article examined four texts that addressed 'connectedness' in social relationships. It considered concepts of care and social capital, and how these were applied in policy and practice. It highlighted the importance of understandings deriving from these concepts in developing policies that supported well-being, reflected the significance of moral decision-making, and enabled the development of supportive networks.
Source: Marian Barnes and David Prior, 'Conceptualising connectedness: implications for policy and practice', Social Policy and Society, Volume 6 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Apr
An article proposed a critical framework for assessing the links between immigration, social cohesion, and social capital.
Source: Pauline Hope Cheong, Rosalind Edwards, Harry Goulbourne and John Solomos, 'Immigration, social cohesion and social capital: a critical review', Critical Social Policy, Volume 27 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Jan