Social capital is the mutual trust and cooperation that arises
from the web of connections among people involved in organizations and community
groups. For the most part, private activities, not government ones, foster social
capital. The term civil society is sometimes used as a synonym for the
relationships that create social capital. In a civil society, social capital flows
easily between people.
Creating Social Capital
Activities that can build social capital include the following:
- Participating in the local parent-teacher association
- Joining a civic organization, such as the Elks or the Kiwanis Club
- Volunteering in the neighborhood or around the community
- Forming a neighborhood watch
- Donating old clothes or goods
- Contributing to a food bank
- Joining a church or synagogue group
- Belonging to a bridge team, craft club, or other type of
common-interest group
Social Capital and Democracy
In a democratic society, people must be willing to trust others and
tolerate those with whom they disagree. Without these attitudes, democracy can
fail, because democracy is ultimately a cooperative form of government. Many
political scientists regard social capital as essential to democracy because
social capital forges bonds between members of the community. These bonds enable
people to readily join together. Also, working with others helps build a sense
of community and trust among citizens, which, in turn, creates more social
capital.
Social Capital and Democratization
One of the most difficult tasks for any democratizing country is the
building of civil society. Authoritarian regimes discour-age civil society
because civil society can form the basis of resistance to the government.
These governments instill fear and mistrust within their citizens, often
turning groups and individuals against one another. New democracies
sometimes have trouble building community trust and tolerance because their
citizens are not used to working together in civil society. For this reason,
nations that seek to help other nations democratize must focus much energy
on creating social capital and building civil societies.
