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Social Change and Social Capital in Australia
A solution for contemporary problems?
Jane Edwards
Centre for Work + Life, University of South Australia
Brian Cheers
Associate Professor; Director, Centre for Rural and Regional Development, University of South Australia, Whyalla Campus, SA
Litza Graham
Whyalla Community Health Service, Whyalla, SA
Abstract
Profound social changes associated with globalization, economic
rationalism and pluralism have sparked concern with social
cohesiveness, integration and national identity in contemporary
Australia. 'Social capital' is frequently invoked as the phenomenon
that can restore cohesiveness and integration.
However, this reading of
social capital is heavily dependent on Putnam's formulation of the
concept and overlooks the earlier work of Bourdieu and Coleman.
Bourdieu in particular suggests that social capital is an analytical
tool to explain social stratification, not, as Putnam argues, a
normative tool to enhance working together on collective goals.
We
review recent Australian writing on social capital and argue that it is
frequently used in the way Putnam advocates and that it is
theoretically and empirically inadequate to redress many of the issues
facing contemporary Australia.
Keywords
civil society, community, national community, social capital, social change
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