Critical Perspectives on Social Capital and Development: Theory and Practice

Abstract

This study intends to investigate the concept of social capital on the basis of evidence provided by theoretical perspectives and empirical studies. Various definitions of social capital touch upon beliefs, values, networks, and trust by complicating the meaning and creating conceptual chaos. In addition to shaky conceptual foundations, methodological inadequacies are also framing numerous problems and challenges. Moreover, lack of power, class, race, gender etc. analysis in the literature makes it difficult to contribute to poverty alleviation. In this respect, first, the origins of the social capital, definition, and the development of the concept will be explored. The investigation of the role of the World Bank in the promotion of the concept and the empirical evidences will constitute second part of this work. It is argued here in order to foster mechanisms of development, social capital projects require broader, more collaborative, and innovative approaches.