Social Capital: Critical Perspectives

The idea of social capital is increasingly prominent in international, national, and local policy-making and in the social sciences. However, its rapid rise to prominence has not been matched by proper scrutiny of the idea and its consequences. This book provides the first full critical analysis of social capital, written by authors from a wide range of disciplinary and policy backgrounds. The book asks searching questions: Is the concept of social capital really new? Does it offer significant anaytic purchase? Can it be an operational, as opposed to rhetorica concept? Can policies based on social capital deal with conflict and social exclusion? These issues are explored through studies of education, health, political science, urban regeneartion, economic development and other areas and disciplines. The authors - who include academics, professionals and policy specialists - are all distinguished and prominent contributors in their own fields. Contributors to this volume - Stephen Baron, University of Glasgow, Scotland Phillip Brown, University of Cardiff, Wales Catherine Campbell, London School of Economics, University of London, England Ralph Fevre, University of Cardiff, Wales John Field, University of Warwick, England Ben Fine, School of African and Oriental Studies, University of London, England Francis Green, University of Kent, England Peter Loizos, London School of Economics, University of London, England Hugh Lauder, University of Bath, England Jon Lauglo, World Bank, Washington, USA Alex MacGillivray, New Economics Foundation, London, England William Maloney, University of Aberdeen, Scotland Peter Maskell, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark Pamela Munn, University of Edinburgh, Scotland Lindsay Paterson, University of Edinburgh, Scotland Tom Schuller, Birkbeck College, University of London Graham Smith, University of Strathclyde, Scotland Gerry Stoker, University of Strathclyde, Scotland Simon Szreter, St. John's College, University of Cambridge Perry Walker, New Economics Foundation, London, England