The concept of social capital in academic discussion and in public policy (original) (raw)

2012, Social and Cultural Capital in Western Balkan Societies / edited by Predrag Cvetičanin, Ana Birešev

The paper aims to provide an overview of contemporary theories of social capital. The concept of social capital was introduced into academic discourse at the beginning of the 20th century, but it became popular at the end of 20thcentury. The paper presents a short history of the concept (authors Hanifan and Dewey). The central part of the paper focuses on current theoreticaldevelopments. The main three lines of the theoretical conceptualization ofsocial capital are presented: three dominant authors (Bourdieu, Coleman, Putnam), economic / development theories (Becker, Glaeser, Temple, Fukuyama), and network theories of social capital (Nan Lin). Three dimensions are brieflydiscussed in all the above theories: definition, paradigmatic framework, and methodology. The concluding part of the paper deals with another distinct issue with regard to the concept of social capital, its popularity in public policy and political discourse at the end of 20th century.