Networks Trust And Social Capital

The concepts of social networks, social capital and trust play an increasingly central role in the social sciences. They have become indispensable conceptual tools for the analysis of post-industrial/late-modern societies, which are characterized by such features as the relative decline of formal hierarchies, the development of flexible social arrangements in the sphere of production and the extreme mobility of capital. This is the first book to study the interrelationships between these important concepts both theoretically and empirically. Drawing on empirical investigations from a range of diverse European social contexts, the contributors develop an economic sociology that builds on and extends established theoretical perspectives. The book opens with an introduction to the theoretical ideas: relating social capital to reciprocity, trust and social networks in line with current debates. The authors go on to discuss the concept of social embededdness, addressing the economic effects of social capital by examining the network and trust foundations of labour markets and investigating the structural limits of trusting networks. They conclude with an exploration of the impact of networking and the functioning of trust and social capital on the economic arrangements and performance of nascent capitalist economies in post-Communist Europe. This thematically unified collection by a team of distinguished contributors from across Europe provides an innovative and distinctive contribution to an expanding area of research.

Social capital - the informal networks, trust and common understanding among individuals in an organization - determines major competitive advantages in today's networked economy. Knowledge and Social Capital explains how social capital can drive collaboration, reconcile an organization's internal and external labor markets, and improve organizational effectiveness. This edited compilation of authoritative articles helps readers understand how they can build and capitalize on their own organizations' social capital. Knowledge and Social Capital teaches core principles and important strategies to a range of executives, including organizational development specialists, corporate strategists, and knowledge management professionals. Readers will learn how an organization can:

The concepts of social networks, social capital and trust play an increasingly central role in the social sciences. They have become indispensable conceptual tools for the analysis of post-industrial/late-modern societies, which are characterized by such features as the relative decline of formal hierarchies, the development of flexible social arrangements in the sphere of production and the extreme mobility of capital. This is the first book to study the interrelationships between these important concepts both theoretically and empirically. Drawing on empirical investigations from a range of diverse European social contexts, the contributors develop an economic sociology that builds on and extends established theoretical perspectives. The book opens with an introduction to the theoretical ideas: relating social capital to reciprocity, trust and social networks in line with current debates. The authors go on to discuss the concept of social embededdness, addressing the economic effects of social capital by examining the network and trust foundations of labour markets and investigating the structural limits of trusting networks. They conclude with an exploration of the impact of networking and the functioning of trust and social capital on the economic arrangements and performance of nascent capitalist economies in post-Communist Europe. This thematically unified collection by a team of distinguished contributors from across Europe provides an innovative and distinctive contribution to an expanding area of research.

This is the first book on social capital and trust informed by a critical geographical perspective. The authors examine the role of social capital in the constitution and reproduction of urban networks of trust in different places and contexts. They explore how social capital and trust are reflected in the capacity of these networks to achieve their goals and to deliver specific forms of urban development in a number of Finnish and Italian cities. Finland and Italy present, in many ways, two almost paradigmatic cases of how social capital and trust can work in extremely different and yet very effective ways in the production of the urban. They are two almost ideal laboratories for experimenting new definitions and new understandings of the concepts in question.

For this book Bartkus and Davis assembled the social capital equivalent of the New York Yankees slugger s row of the 1950s, recruiting some of the best Hall of Fame hitters around along with a number of future stars still early in their careers. The result is a good reflection of the current state of the literature on social capital. Robert D. Putnam, Harvard University, US Social capital is widely used and sometimes mis-used by scholars, policymakers, and the general public. The time has come for thoughtful reflection, synthesis, and informed criticism regarding this important concept. Bartkus and Davis have developed a ground-breaking collection of essays exploring the ideas and evidence underpinning social capital. Denise M. Rousseau, Carnegie Mellon University, US At heart, social capital is a simple concept that relationships matter. Bartkus and Davis foster a vibrant debate among leading scholars as to the critical definition, creation, and consequences of social capital. I commend Bartkus and Davis for their interdisciplinary efforts, for there is no more important challenge facing the social sciences today than the exploration of trust and social capital in our society. Father Theodore Hesburgh, University of Notre Dame, US Social capital has taken the social sciences by storm yet remains fraught with controversy. Despite its complexity and conceptual difficulties, the persistent interest in social capital arises from the fact that it helps us make sense of why people do what they do. This book showcases new innovative research in economics, politics, sociology, and management regarding the topic. Leading scholars from a variety of disciplines present ground-breaking new research exploring the still-undiscovered value of social capital. The book employs a self-consciously multi-disciplinary approach to address two objectives: reaching out and reaching in. Through theoretical and empirical scholarship, the authors explore the many contexts in which the phenomenon can have impact. In effect, social capital research reaches out to issues of economic well-being, civic participation, educational achievement, knowledge and norm formation, and competitive advantage. Further, the authors investigate the many connections between the core themes of social capital and the pillars on which it rests, including structural networks, cognition, relationships and trust. This book is fundamentally about bridging bridging across disciplines, units of analysis, and themes. Scholars, students, and other interested readers from the social sciences and management will find this book challenging and illuminating.

Pt. 1. Social capital as an instrument of violence -- pt. 2. Social capital as a catalyst for peace -- pt. 3. Ambiguities of social capital in peace and conflict.

The study of social capital is one of the most exciting recent developments in the social sciences. Written by some of the main experts in the field this Handbook is an authoritative, critical, and innovative introduction to the study of social capital.