Social Sustainability
Social Capital
Definition
Social capital is the value embedded in social relationships: the networks, trust, norms of reciprocity and shared institutions that enable collective action. Developed by Bourdieu, Coleman and Putnam, the concept distinguishes bonding capital (within groups), bridging capital (across groups) and linking capital (to power holders); high social capital predicts collective efficacy, institutional performance and — repeatedly in disaster research — survival and recovery.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Social Capital” is defined and used.
Source imported for editorial provenance.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures community development, disaster resilience research, the social capital line in the Six Capitals framework, and analysis of institutional quality and commons management (Ostrom's work).
Why it matters
Social capital is the invisible asset on which visible sustainability outcomes depend — the reason community is a climate technology.