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POLICY ARENA: Accounting for the 'dark side' of social capital: reading Robert Putnam on democracy

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  • James Putzel

    (Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics, UK)

Abstract

Recent theoretical work employing the concept of 'social capital' in the study of democratization remains plagued by conceptual confusion and a curious neglect of politics. This paper critically examines the work of Robert Putnam and other institutional theorists and suggests that a misguided attempt to locate a singular framework to explain both economic and political performance fails to recognize that the conditions underpinning successful capitalist development may not always be congruous with those favouring democratic politics. The work on social capital is coloured by an idealization of the role of the family and of the American political past, influenced by current communitarian thinking. Finally, an uncritical acceptance of the determinist notion of 'path dependence' eclipses the role of political action and ideas in the assessment of political outcomes and prospects for democratization. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • James Putzel, 1997. "POLICY ARENA: Accounting for the 'dark side' of social capital: reading Robert Putnam on democracy," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 9(7), pages 939-949.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:9:y:1997:i:7:p:939-949
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1328(199711)9:7<939::AID-JID497>3.0.CO;2-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lele, Sharachchandra M., 1991. "Sustainable development: A critical review," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 607-621, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Durston, John, 2001. "Social capital: part of the problem, part of the solution; its role in the persistence and overcoming of poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean," Sede de la CEPAL en Santiago (Estudios e Investigaciones) 33038, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    2. Adhikari, Krishna Prasad & Goldey, Patricia, 2010. "Social Capital and its "Downside": The Impact on Sustainability of Induced Community-Based Organizations in Nepal," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 184-194, February.
    3. Lavlu Mozumdar & Geoffrey Hagelaar & Valentina C. Materia & S. W. F. Omta & Mohammad Amirul Islam & Gerben Velde, 2019. "Embeddedness or Over-Embeddedness? Women Entrepreneurs’ Networks and Their Influence on Business Performance," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(5), pages 1449-1469, December.
    4. Jaco Vermaak, 2009. "Reassessing the concept of 'social capital': considering resources for satisfying the needs of rural communities," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(3), pages 399-412.
    5. Tüzin Baycan & Özge Öner, 2023. "The dark side of social capital: a contextual perspective," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(3), pages 779-798, June.
    6. Verduin, Femke & Smid, Geert E. & Wind, Tim R. & Scholte, Willem F., 2014. "In search of links between social capital, mental health and sociotherapy: A longitudinal study in Rwanda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 1-9.
    7. Göran Jutengren & Ellen Jaldestad & Lotta Dellve & Andrea Eriksson, 2020. "The Potential Importance of Social Capital and Job Crafting for Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction among Health-Care Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-16, June.
    8. Caroline Moser & Cathy McIlwaine, 2000. "Urban Poor Perceptions of Violence and Exclusion in Colombia," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15182.
    9. May Tan-Mullins & Jonathan Rigg & Lisa Law & Carl Grundy-Warr, 2007. "Re-mapping the politics of aid," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 7(4), pages 327-344, October.
    10. Michal Lyons, 2007. "Temporary Migration, the Informal Economy and Structural Change: London's Bicycle Rickshaw Riders," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 22(4), pages 376-387, November.
    11. Isabel Saz-Gil & Ignacio Bretos & Millán Díaz-Foncea, 2021. "Cooperatives and Social Capital: A Narrative Literature Review and Directions for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.

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