Myth Of Social Capital In Community Development

The traditional understanding of "social capital" is fundamentally flawed.

1 minute read

February 5, 2002, 7:00 AM PST

Writing in the Fannie Mae Foundation's journal, Housing Policy Debate" James DeFilippis suggests that the concept of social capital has gained attention in the past decade as an element of community development practice. DeFilippis argues that the popular guru of social capital, Robert Putnam, has advanced a "fundamentally flawed" understanding of social capital because his concept "fails to understand issues of power in the production of communities and because it is divorced from economic capital." DeFilippis makes the case that Putnam's "Bowling Alone" definition of social capital does not serve the community development field well. Many inner-city neighborhoods have the social networks and interaction that constitute the Putnam view of social capital, yet they are not truly empowered, according to DeFilippis.

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: The Myth of Social Capital in Community Development

Sunday, February 3, 2002 in Fannie Mae Foundation

Housing United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.