Social Capital

This entry overviews the concept of social capital, which has come to be perceived as essential to a successfully functioning civil society and democracy. Social capital is most commonly described as the sum of resources found within a network of relationships, and the ability of those within a network to take advantage of those resources. Structural perspectives on social capital have examined the concept through techniques such as network analysis. Cognitive and exchange-based approaches to social capital research associate social capital with variables such as trust, social support, and information exchange. Social capital has also been measured by the extent to which an individual is engaged in social activities or organizations within his or her community. The entry reviews these various perspectives of social capital research and links the concept with the potential for strategic communication to make communities a better place in which to live.