Social-capital interventions fail precisely where they are needed most
Evidence
A review of “neighborhood crime watch” programs found that they are most likely to succeed in areas where they are least needed—middle-class, stable neighborhoods that already benefit from social trust and networks of association. Instead of a “virtuous circle,” in which existing social capital facilitates the creation of more social capital, inner cities are too often marked by a vicious circle, in which low levels of trust and cohesion lead to higher levels of crime, which lead to even lower levels of trust and cohesion. Social-capital-intensive strategies may help to “unwind” this negative spiral, but they are challenging strategies to pursue. — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 1104
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: CDD projects fail even under ideal social-capital conditions, exposing model flaws. — Jessica Carrick-Hagenbarth, Institutional Bricolage and Commoning…, 149; Social capital does not automatically translate into durable political organizations. — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics: Extreme Politicization…, 155; Social capital is activity-specific and even harmful in some contexts. (+5 more)
Broader Connections
- Social capital does not automatically translate into durable political organizations.
#complicates(0.85) — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics, 155 - Social capital is activity-specific and even harmful in some contexts.
#expands(0.80) - Social capital in the surrounding adult community lowers student dropout rates.
#corroborates(0.80) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 198 - High social capital can enable rather than prevent authoritarian mobilization
#responds-to(0.75) — Anton Jäger, Hyperpolitics, 145 - Social capital valuable for one activity can harm others.
#expands(0.75) — Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, 40