Community Development Capital Research Articles

Role of Social Capital in Community Development

Purpose: The general objective of the study was to explore the role of social capital in community development. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the role of social capital in community development. Preliminary empirical review revealed that social networks, trust, and collective action played crucial roles in enhancing community well-being and resilience. Through empirical research conducted across various contexts, it was found that social capital served as a catalyst for community empowerment, fostering cooperation and mutual support among residents. The study highlighted the importance of context-specific factors in shaping the relationship between social capital and community development, emphasizing the need for targeted investments in social capital-building initiatives to promote inclusive and sustainable development. Overall, the findings underscored the vital role of social capital in driving positive change within communities, providing valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Social Capital theory, Community Development theory and Network theory may be used to anchor future studies on the role of social capital in community development. The study contributed to theoretical advancements by enhancing comprehension of how social relationships influence development outcomes, refining existing theories, and highlighting the interplay between social capital and socio-economic factors. Practically, it guided practitioners in fostering social networks, promoting civic engagement, and tailoring interventions to community needs. From a policy perspective, it influenced the design of development policies by leveraging social capital for inclusive and sustainable development, promoting social cohesion, and addressing structural barriers. Overall, recognizing social capital's importance underscored its potential as a catalyst for positive change within communities.

The role of social capital in community development: Insights from behavioral game theory and social network analysis

AbstractThis study examined the multifaceted nature of Social Capital (SC) in community development projects by using Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions in three urban Bangladeshi slums as a case study. Despite its recognized importance, the ambiguity surrounding SC has led to mixed outcomes, necessitating a more theorized approach to quantitatively assess SC. To address this, a comprehensive methodology was developed, specifically crafted for a community development context and incorporating standard SC questions, social network analysis indices, and an adherence to social norms through behavioral game theory. The analysis revealed varied SC profiles, with one slum achieving successful community toilet management through strong reciprocal ties. The other slums faced challenges due to community division and weakened SC among key individuals. These findings underscore the necessity of tailoring interventions to community‐specific SC characteristics. The streamlined approach derived from the study provides guidance for both enhancing the effectiveness of community interventions and advancing sustainable development.

Exploring the role of social capital in advancing climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction

ABSTRACT This work explores how social capital impacts community resilience via the community development framework, with dimensions spanning trust, cooperativism, volunteerism, reciprocity, and interpersonal relationships in mitigating climate change impacts. With flooding impacts as a case, a mixed method approach was used, purposely recruiting 24 research cooperators in one of the suburban villages in the central Philippines. Results show that key components in disaster mitigation plans include help-seeking behavior, community responses, social relations, and resource allocation within communities. Findings demonstrate that social capital has proven invaluable in mobilizing resources, building resilience, disseminating information, mediating conflict resolution, providing psychological support, and improving livelihoods within communities. By exploring the role of social capital in community development, this study sheds light on its importance for climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction initiatives. Policymakers, development practitioners, and community leaders can frame these findings to effectively harness social capital and foster community participation.

CONTRIBUTION OF THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

The study of this article aims to illustrate the importance of social capital in community development in rural areas assuming that social capital energy still exists in community life in rural areas today but certainly needs to be improved sustainably. Using the method of literature study, so that the secondary databases obtained are compiled, analyzed and inferred. The data collection stage is through taking data from the library, reading, recording, and then processing the data from the materials obtained. The results of the study show that through the elements of social capital owned by the community in rural areas, the role of social capital can contribute to increasing community productivity, social development, economic development as well as the development and rehabilitation of various village infrastructures in a mutual cooperation. Social exchanges that are built in rural communities that tend to be based on certain motives including because there are certain motives of profit, interests and rewards, are intertwined through interlocking social networks. This is also supported by the existence of social values and norms in the culture of the village community. For this reason, a sustainable increase in social capital in rural communities is expected to improve the economy and reduce poverty in addition to the increase in various other development sectors in rural areas today.

The reciprocal relationship between social capital and community development in a Korean Chinese enclave: the case of Daerim 2-dong in Seoul

ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between social capital and community development as well as the interaction mechanism between different types of social capital in community development in a Korean-Chinese enclave in Seoul, Korea. For empirical analysis, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 community members in Daerim 2-dong, the largest Korean-Chinese enclave in Korea. The empirical analysis shows that as an input of community development, bonding, bridging, and linking capital all led to the improvement of both social and physical community environments. Furthermore, community development activities increase social capital by facilitating contact and interaction among community members. Additionally, bonding capital among the Korean Chinese was found to be a critical factor for developing bridging and linking capital in the community development process. These results suggest a two-way association between social capital and community development. Based on these findings, this study suggests that greater attention should be paid to the two-way association to promote a reciprocal relationship between social capital and community development in ethnically diverse communities. Moreover, the usefulness of bonding capital among migrants should be considered in community development.

Social Capital in Community Development: A Corner Stone in the right to participation and the Leave No One Behind

Social Capital in Community Development: A Corner Stone in the right to participation and the Leave No One Behind

Social Capital in Community Development at Prone Disaster Area: A Lesson Learnt at Sempu Village, Nglancar, Kediri, East Java, Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the role of social capital in community development in disaster prone areas. The study was conducted in a disaster-prone area of Mount Kelud, Sempu Village, Ngancar District, Kediri Regency after the eruption in 2014. The study used a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach. The results showed that after the eruption in 2014, social capital in the community became a source of strength in community development in the Mount Kelud disaster-prone areas, especially in the process of restoring the social and economic life of the Sempu village community. Social ties, trusts, social networks that are strongly intertwined are the elements of social capital that are still strong which are found in the study area. The results of the study also found a responsive, innovative and transparent leadership pattern developed by the Village Head helped accelerate the recovery process of the socio-economic life of the Sempu village community. The results of the study also revealed that the social capital owned by the local community was tested for strength when dealing with external forces such as the presence of institutions and volunteers involved in the recovery process. This situation triggered tensions between residents and the apparatus assigned to distribute aid.

Racial discrimination in TARP investments

Minority and black owned banks were significantly less likely to receive funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Community Development Capital Initiative (CDCI). A non-minority bank with the median characteristics was approximately ten times more likely to obtain TARP funds than an African-American owned bank after controlling for other factors. We also find prior TARP recipients and banks with fewer troubled assets were more likely to obtain money from this program.

Racial Discrimination in TARP Investments

Minority and black owned banks were significantly less likely to receive funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) Community Development Capital Initiative (CDCI). A non-minority bank with the median characteristics was approximately ten times more likely to obtain TARP funds than an African American owned bank after controlling for other factors. We also find prior TARP recipients and banks with fewer troubled assets were more likely to obtain money from this program.

The Effect of Tarp Funding on Recipient Credit Unions

Credit unions have become an important component of the American financial system, with more than 10% of all savings deposits and non-revolving consumer loans; as well as some 12% of all depository institution employees. With nearly any measure of depository institution market share, credit unions have been growing.Credit unions fared better than banks in the past two big financial crises (1980s and 2008-2010). But there were some institutions whose common bond forced them to take on more risk during that time period. In some of those cases, their members were underserved by other financial institutions, making the small credit union a systemically important financial institution for them. Therefore, in 2010, a TARP program was offered to shore up community development financial institutions (CDFIs). The Community Development Capital Initiative (CDCI) was the only direct TARP loan program offered to credit unions. Although nearly 200 credit unions qualified, only 48 received funding (all in late September 2010). The recipient credit unions borrowed less than $70 million total.This paper assesses the effectiveness of the TARP program for the recipient credit unions. We find that CDFI credit unions were far more likely to fail since the initiation of the TARP than other credit unions. We also find that recipient credit unions did not use funds to enrich members, but used the funds as they were intended, to improve capital and liquidity. We wonder if a special program needed to be established to generate these $70 million in loan funds because of the weakness among credit unions’ preferred lender, the corporate credit unions.

Civic Networks and Community Resilience in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Cuba

This article explores the relationship between civil society and community resilience in coastal communities in Brazil, Canada, Chile and Cuba. In understanding the role of social capital in community development, we do not feel sufficient attention has been paid to the subtle micro-dynamics of civil network structure. Using social network analysis, we explore the link between community cohesion and resilience. Attention is given to conflicting interests that characterize these communities and how they manifest themselves in civic participation and factional affiliations. We find that organizational diversity is a necessary condition for community vitality, but organizations can become captive to factional interests. The critical factors for resilience are associated with a benign side of factions (a plurality of inclusive ties) and the presence of keystone bridging agents. Each offers hidden mechanisms for neutralizing the effects of fragmentation by providing a cohesive capability which remains latent until crises call for collective action.

Social Capital and Community Development: An Analysis of Two Cases from India and Bangladesh

This article explores the role of social capital in community development by focusing on two South Asian case studies drawn from India and Bangladesh. Both studies recognized social capital as a useful resource, which facilitates social interaction and promotes mutual support and cooperation and thus improves participants’ livelihood through income generation, better community governance and capacity building. An important observation is that social capital yields superior outcome if it is used in line with the local conditions of a given society. The findings suggest lessons for policy planners, donor agencies, development practitioners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society to use social capital as a resource in order to achieve sustainable community development.

Community-led infrastructure provision in low-income urban communities in developing countries: A study on Ohafia, Nigeria

The changing role of government in infrastructure provision and the need for community-based approach are widely gaining increasing recognition, but the extent to which local communities are involved in urban infrastructure provision in developing countries has not been given adequate attention in the literature. This study examines how community-based organizations are filling the gap created by partial withdrawal of the state from urban infrastructure provision in six low-income urban communities in Ohafia, Nigeria. Drawing on the role of social capital in community development, this paper reported how, and in what context situations the organizations are addressing the infrastructure challenge in their communities. Relying on the data from a survey, the study identified six organizations and three funding arrangements in urban infrastructure provision in the communities. Using this case-study, this study attempted to identify how the mobilization of resources in project initiation, design, implementation and funding influenced the type of infrastructure projects. The findings have conceptual and policy implications for understanding the socio-economic and political dynamics in harnessing local resources and integrating community-based approaches into urban development process in developing countries.

Grassroots participation, peer education, and HIV prevention by sex workers in South Africa.

This microqualitative case study of a community-based peer education program led by sex workers at a South African mine examined the role of grassroots participation in sexual health promotion. The study involved in-depth interviews with 30 members of the target community. The interviews were analyzed in terms of social capital, empowerment, and identity. The study yielded a detailed analysis of the way in which community dynamics have shaped the peer education program's development in a deprived, violent community where existing norms and networks are inconsistent with ideal criteria for participatory health promotion. Much remains to be learned about the complexities of translating theoretically and politically vital notions of "community participation" into practice among hard-to-reach groups. The fabric of local community life is shaped by nonlocal structural conditions of poverty and sexual inequality in ways that challenge those seeking to theorize the role of social capital in community development in general and in sexual health promotion in particular.

The myth of social capital in community development

This article argues that contemporary interest in social capital by community development theorists, funders, and practitioners is misguided and needs to be thoroughly rethought. It argues that social capital, as understood by Robert Putnam and people influenced by his work, is a fundamentally flawed concept because it fails to understand issues of power in the production of communities and because it is divorced from economic capital. Therefore, community development practice based on this understanding of social capital is, and will continue to be, similarly flawed. The article further argues that instead of Putnam's understanding of social capital, community development practice would be better served by returning to the way the concept was used by Glenn Loury and Pierre Bourdieu and concludes with a discussion of how these alternative theories of social capital can be realized in community development practice.

Entrepreneurial Neighborhood Initiatives: Political Capital in Community Development

Community-based organizations are struggling to find alternative strategies to successfully leverage assistance and resources to improve their neighborhoods. This article offers a three-pronged formula for sustainable community development based on an entrepreneurial approach to undertake neighborhood initiatives. Economic, social, and political capital are necessary ingredients to generate independent community-based strategies that residents and investors can manage over the long term to achieve financial and social successes. Two community organization cases are compared to determine whether different approaches to local government for community development programs and funding represent different strategies and, ultimately, different levels of success.