Taking stock of social capital: where is social policy heading ?
Winsome Roberts
University of Melbourne
Contact Email:   winsomeunimelb.edu.au

Social capital is seen as social policy’s panacea, the antidote to the contemporary social ills accompanying growth of laissez-faire capitalism. From the World Bank, to national, regional and local governments, the cry is ‘build networks, build community’ to repair the damage of possessive individualism. Partnerships and participation are the touchstones of populist Third Way Politics. In Australia, it is a decade since Eva Cox’s Boyer Lectures promoted Robert Putnam’s concept of social capital and called for a truly civil society. Australian governments have invested heavily in ‘rebuilding community’ and have developed policies, infrastructure and research funding committed to enhancing social capital. It is now timely to take stock. Banking on social capital has certainly generated meta-social capital, but what of the outcomes of this new policy industry? This paper theorises social capital and considers its potential for conservative or reformist outcomes. It argues that the dominant paradigm of social capital, by viewing participation as a good in itself, deflects attention away from addressing the regressive redistribution of the broader political economy. Capacity building and community development then become technologies of minimal social change. However restoring the political economy frame to thinking about social capital provides real potential for achieving social change. Such an approach to social policy would re-politicise welfare practice and channel the energies of capacity building and community development to underwrite the agenda of, and give momentum to, sustained campaigns for social justice.

Paper Download Information (if available):

Paper66.doc

Copyright © 2007 Social Policy Research Centre.