This paper reviews the origins and definitions of social capital in
the writings of Bourdieu, Loury, and Coleman, among other authors.
It distinguishes four sources of social capital and examines their
dynamics. Applications of the concept in the sociological literature
emphasize its role in social control, in family support, and in
benefits mediated by extrafamilial networks. I provide examples
of each of these positive functions. Negative consequences of the
same processes also deserve attention for a balanced picture of
the forces at play. I review four such consequences and illustrate
them with relevant examples. Recent writings on social capital have
extended the concept from an individual asset to a feature of communities
and even nations. The final sections describe this conceptual stretch
and examine its limitations. I argue that, as shorthand for the
positive consequences of sociability, social capital has a definite
place in sociological theory. However, excessive extensions of the
concept may jeopardize its heuristic value.
%0 Journal Article
%1 Portes1998
%A Portes, Alejandro
%D 1998
%J Annual Review of Sociology
%K Sociability Family support, Control Networks, Social
%P 1--24
%T Social Capital: Its Origins and Applications in Modern Sociology
%U http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0360-0572%281998%2924%3C1%3ASCIOAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D
%V 24
%X This paper reviews the origins and definitions of social capital in
the writings of Bourdieu, Loury, and Coleman, among other authors.
It distinguishes four sources of social capital and examines their
dynamics. Applications of the concept in the sociological literature
emphasize its role in social control, in family support, and in
benefits mediated by extrafamilial networks. I provide examples
of each of these positive functions. Negative consequences of the
same processes also deserve attention for a balanced picture of
the forces at play. I review four such consequences and illustrate
them with relevant examples. Recent writings on social capital have
extended the concept from an individual asset to a feature of communities
and even nations. The final sections describe this conceptual stretch
and examine its limitations. I argue that, as shorthand for the
positive consequences of sociability, social capital has a definite
place in sociological theory. However, excessive extensions of the
concept may jeopardize its heuristic value.
@article{Portes1998,
abstract = {This paper reviews the origins and definitions of social capital in
the writings of Bourdieu, Loury, and Coleman, among other authors.
It distinguishes four sources of social capital and examines their
dynamics. Applications of the concept in the sociological literature
emphasize its role in social control, in family support, and in
benefits mediated by extrafamilial networks. I provide examples
of each of these positive functions. Negative consequences of the
same processes also deserve attention for a balanced picture of
the forces at play. I review four such consequences and illustrate
them with relevant examples. Recent writings on social capital have
extended the concept from an individual asset to a feature of communities
and even nations. The final sections describe this conceptual stretch
and examine its limitations. I argue that, as shorthand for the
positive consequences of sociability, social capital has a definite
place in sociological theory. However, excessive extensions of the
concept may jeopardize its heuristic value.},
added-at = {2006-09-29T17:04:16.000+0200},
author = {Portes, Alejandro},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2bcaf81cea48a503934ece84a8321b0ef/gerhard},
copyright = {Copyright 1998 Annual Reviews},
interhash = {587eceaf731030be85c56b5982375ec5},
intrahash = {bcaf81cea48a503934ece84a8321b0ef},
issn = {03600572},
journal = {Annual Review of Sociology},
keywords = {Sociability Family support, Control Networks, Social},
owner = {Gerhard},
pages = {1--24},
timestamp = {2006-09-29T17:04:16.000+0200},
title = {Social Capital: Its Origins and Applications in Modern Sociology},
url = {http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0360-0572%281998%2924%3C1%3ASCIOAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D},
volume = 24,
year = 1998
}