Paul Resnick to speak on Social Capital
On Friday, February 9th, Professor Paul Resnick will lead a brown bag discussion (bring your own lunch) focusing on the value of social networks. We will be meeting in 411 West Hall at 12:00.
In preparation for this discussion, we are asking that participants read a short selection of Bowling Alone, by Robert D. Putnam.
Later that evening get ready to "bowl together," as the CiC student group will be organizing a social outing at Bel-Mark Lanes.
See you there!
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Bonding social capital, in context
While we did not have time to cover everything in our discussion with Paul today, I wanted connect ideas of social capital in relation to our CIC trip to the Paseo Boricua neighbohood in Chicago.
Putnam writes about two types of social capital, bridging and bonding. Bridging social capital represents ideas of inclusiveness (ex: civil rights movement) while bonding social capital refers more to notions of exclusiveness (ex: Knights of Columbus or other fraternal organizations).
While in Chicago, we see the Puerto Rican community struggling to cope with widespread gentrification within their neighborhood. How do we see bonding as a vehicle to reinforce cultural identity and shared history?
In other ways, how do we see bonding as a negative reinforcement of homogenetity, furthering ethnocentricity or leading to racially segregated U.S. cities?
Putnam writes, "bonding and bridging are not "either-or" categories into which social networks can be neatly divided, but "more or less" dimensions along which we can compare different forms of social capital" (p. 23).
In this way, as Rupa suggests, ideas of social capital may convey different meanings and norms and be used differently by different social groups.
Discussion, not lecture!