Advantages and disadvantages of social capital

Advantages and disadvantages of amicable crownworkIn this essay I look for advantages and disadvantages accessible neat, which relates to affable networks, the tribe we trust and mutual exchange of favours, the chief(prenominal) feature here being necessitateionate networks as they can be valuable to both the individual and the community, al kickoffing information to be sh ard as swell up as promoting individuals and communities to be more trusting and equal. amicable gravid has been delimit in different ways over the years pack Coleman developed the concept asThe types of relations that exist surrounded by individuals as located at bottom both families and communities, and that argon said to exert a strong influence on levels of educational achievement. Scott, J. and G. Marshall, (2005606).This view linking relationships within families and communities as a determinant of individuals complaisant keen, identifying certain achievements as strong if these relationshi ps atomic number 18 strong tooDeficiencies in hearty capital such(prenominal) as would follow from single-p arenthood, returnd parental involvement with the child or with family activities, and low levels of interaction surrounded by adults and especially parents in local communities were detrimental to victimisation in adolescence. Scott, J. and G. Marshall, (2005606).Other influences on loving capital let in the social structures and the environment, which surround individuals, as well as their culture, norms and sanctions. This demonstrated in the tierce different types of networks within social capital, which include bonding, bridging and linking.Bonding can be described as the social support we may receive from the pile we are close to as part of our backgrounds, it Relates to super C identity, for example ties among great deal who are similar to each otherwithin communities. IDeA, (21/10/08), which include family members, individuals sharing the same ethnic host s or clubs.While Bridging can be described as the social cohesion between individuals and groups, bringing battalion unneurotic who would not normally relate to each other, it Relates to diversity, for example ties among people who are different from one an otheracross communities. IDeA, (21/10/08), which includes the conversations of varied views and interests between associations.Lastly, Linking, where the associations between those gaining independence and democratic lifestyles due to status are links with those in authority, it Relates to power, for example ties with those in authority or between different social classes between communities and organisations and with structures outside communities. IDeA, (21/10/08), which includes powerful institutions and the decision-making parade for example, local authorities.It is primary(prenominal) to suggest that for social capital to be strong, Bridging is the intimately important concept as it allows for more information to be pa ssed between individuals and greater confidence for individuals and groups to hold up more involved with each other creating associations to attain both the individual and the communityThe company Development pes describes social capital as change magnitude the confidence and capacity of individuals and minor(ip) groups to get involved in activities and build mutually supportive networks that build communities together. IDeA, (21/10/08).Also, Robert Putnam who agrees with the concept that trust, norms and networks, that can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated actions Putnam, R. (1993167) cited by Harris, J. (20022), widens the concept, emphasising the importance of peoples involvement within informal activities and voluntarily participating or being part of involuntary associations, this also masking the importance of Bridging capital.However, as important social capital is claimed to be, Putnam has claimed a decrease in globe conjunction in thes e informal activities and voluntary associations in particular societies therefore having a negative impact on social cohesionOver the past thirty years we spend a penny sustain ever more alienated from one another and from our social and political institutions, and that this disengagement poses a critical threat to our personal health, local communities and subject field well-being. This taken from The Saguaro Seminar, roll Alone, (2007).Ii is important to evaluate about of the imperious and negative affects of social capital, and here it is clear that about of the positive affects could include impact on individuals happiness as they form relationships and associations to reach income as well as on personal health, magical spell on the community, a positive impact could be shown on crime order and educational attainment and more effective government, however, as Putnam claims above that there is a decline in social capital and therefore this having a negative influence to individuals and communities, (for example, increasing crime rates, decreasing educational achievement, puerile pregnancy, child suicide, etc).The negative affects of social capital could include social elision as many groups achieve internal cohesion at the outgo of outsiders, who can be treated with suspicion, hostility or outright offense Walker, A. (2004).Also, social capital can be used for bad purposes, possibly for profit rather than support of individuals and communities as they network.The idea that there are less(prenominal) people participating in voting and showing political interest than those who take part in volunteering organisations perhaps shows one of the ways in which the voluntary and community sphere are increasingly graceful an important feature within societies.It is first important to understand the moment of volunteer and community and then how they are important as a whole, a third sector.Volunteering is any operation which involves spending time , unpaid, doing something which aims to benefit individual (individuals or groups) other than or in addition to, close relatives, or to benefit the environment National Survey of Volunteering, (1997).Voluntary associations defend been defined asAny human beings, formally constituted, and non commercial organisation of which membership is optional, within a particular society. Scott, J. and G. Marshall, (2005691).This could include churches, political parties, pressure groups, leisure activity groups as well as professional associations, to encourage public participation to take for social order.The key features of voluntary organisations includes that they are independent and self-governing, operate by values and are to support others not to profit themselves, while a Community is a group of people living together in one place who share either a common religion, race or other characteristic or interest that allows the group to be considered collectively.Communitarianism emphasi ses the importance of responsibility and finding solutions to social problems within the community. stigmatise Granovetter (1973) developed a abstemious ties theory that suggests individuals have strong ties, such as close friends and family, likewise to bonding, shows the support between individuals, while weak ties are those individuals have with acquaintances which can help to develop socio-economic status similarly to bridging in social capital. This concept demonstrates one of the ways in which social capital and the community are interrelated.Together, the two above notions of volunteering and the community have much contribution toward improving individuals and groups lives.The Voluntary and Community Sector, (VCS), has been outlined by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), as comprising the following characteristics Self-governing organisations, some registered charities, some incorporate non-profit organisations and some outside both classifications. Great range of sizing and structure of organisations. Work delivered for the public benefit, beyond the membership of individual VCOs. liberty of both formal structures of government and the profit sector. Important reliance on volunteers to carry out its work. IDeA (18/09/08).This showing the importance that social capital and the government has on the VCS as networks and policy, and are needed to allow for the sector to grow and benefit the community, allowing for social cohesion and a growth of public participation, this avoiding the affects of what Putnam describes as Bowling Alone.The way in which the VCS can be interconnected to social capital and government policy is shown by the cross-cutting review as the VCSs are for building social capitalcontributing expertise and gravel to policy formulation. IDeA (18/09/08).There are many advantages of the Voluntary and Community Sector, some of these include that there is variation in scope and it is in truth diverse, allowing any m embers of the public to participate in benefiting the community as well as themselves.Also, the NCVO outlines that the VCS builds social capital, which helps to bind society together. IDeA, (18/09/08). In addition the demand of others are met through expertise and experience IDeA (18/09/08), this allowing participants such as volunteers to gain training and skills to benefit themselves and the community. Flexibility is also an advantage, which allows for changing take to be accounted for.However, a disadvantage could still include the issue of social exclusion as a particular group may become less involved within the community as others form associations.It is important to consider the way in which government policy is connected to social capital and to the voluntary and community sector, to help analyse the extent to which they are interconnected.In recent years Government interest in, and support for the ternion sector organisations has been unprecedented. This can be seen for example in proposals for Modernising the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the wider not-for-profit sector Facilitating third sector involvement in public receipts delivery, and Local regeneration and civil renewal schemes NCVO, (2005-2007)This shows how the government have helped to support the third sector by allowing implementing policies, which allow the sector to benefit. much recently, the sectors have become ever more associated with each other as they begin to work together due to the government being less able to deal with certain social problems aloneThere is at present greater understanding that effective policy responses to many social problems such as inequality, unemployment and social exclusion require a cross-sectoral approach, with the government functional with the third sector and the community. Walker, A. (2004).This cross-sectoral approach takes into account that partnerships are the key to pose areas of concern within society, allowing exper tise and more funding toward services for greater gain and stronger social capitalThere are now an increasing number of departmental strategy documents making reference to the advantages of addressing issues of social capital in policy as a means of improving social outcomes and promoting community cohesiveness and development. Walker, A. (2004).The implications partnerships will have includes that the community will benefit as more people will want to participate in the structures, as more plans are made. This also having a positive affect on community safety such as neighbourhood run into schemes, involving local people in criminal justice.Overall, analysing the way in which social capital works as well as the development of the voluntary and community sector over recent years and the changing strategies of working together with other sectors such as the government, in order to maintain social order and benefit communities as a whole, it is evident that the tierce sectors are in terconnected on many levels, whether it is to build bridges and constitute networks to benefit the community or to provide some sort of service to help in providing benefits as a whole.ReferenceWalker, A. (2004), Understanding favorable Capital within Community/Government Policy NetworksScott, J. and G. Marshall, (2005), Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford University iron Inc, New YorkNCVO, (2005-2007), http//www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/policy/index.asp?id=2761 page updated (2007)The Saguaro Seminar-Civic Engagement in America, (2007), Bowling Alone http//www.bowlingalone.com/media.htmVoluntary and Community Sector, (2008), http//www.idea.gov.ukPutnam, R. D. (1993) The prosperous community social capital and public lifeSocial Capital and Innovation Policy Klaus Nielsen (research paper, 2003).www.lgib.gov.uk (2006) Social Inclusion.