Blackwell Reference Online

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Social capital refers to the resources available through networks of social relationships possessed by an individual or a social unit. Social capital is a broad concept that describes the value of connections and has been conceptualized in different ways, including network position ( Burt, 1992 ), network structure ( Coleman, 1988 ), shared cognitions ( Nahapiet and Ghoshal, 1998 ), and collective norms and sanctions. There are two major approaches to the concept. The first, labeled bridging social capital, defines social capital as an attribute of an individual actor or unit and is focused on his or her relative position in a larger network ( see network theory and analysis ). The advantages of this type of social capital are realized by actors who span disconnected others within a network, and include faster access to information, stronger influence among peers, and higher compensation and promotions. The second, labeled bonding or organizational social capital ( Leana and Van Buren, 1999 ), defines social capital as an attribute of a collective realized through social relationships among its members. Its advantages are realized through a dense network of relationships that fosters shared norms of reciprocity and trust, and include more efficient collective action, enhanced intellectual capital, better use of information, and collective prosperity. Social capital's potential ... log in or subscribe to read full text