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Sociology vocabulary · Class, Stratification and Inequality

Social capital

Meaning in sociology, with examples

nounCommon term

In sociology, social capital means: The resources people can access through their social networks and relationships, such as information, support, trust and useful contacts.

In Turkish: sosyal sermaye, toplumsal sermaye

How it is used

Developed by Bourdieu, James Coleman and Robert Putnam, whose book Bowling Alone (2000) argued that social capital was declining in the United States. Putnam separated bonding social capital (within a group) from bridging social capital (between groups).

Example sentences

  1. Graduates with more social capital often hear about jobs before they are advertised.

  2. Neighbourhood associations can build social capital and trust between residents.

Common collocations

  • build social capital
  • bonding social capital
  • bridging social capital
  • decline of social capital
  • cultural capitalNon-financial resources such as knowledge, tastes, ways of speaking and educational qualifications that give people an advantage in society, especially at school.
  • social networkA set of relationships linking people, groups or organisations, through which information, support and resources can flow.
  • communityA group of people who share a place, an identity or common interests and feel a sense of belonging and connection to one another.
  • social cohesionThe degree to which people in a society or community feel connected, trust one another and share a sense of belonging and common purpose.

More terms: Class, Stratification and Inequality

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