Neighborhood Sense of Community and Social Capital

Abstract

In many ways, social capital (SC) is to political science, sociology, applied economics, and community development what sense of community (SOC) and empowerment have been to community psychology. SC is the norms, networks, and mutual trust of "civil society" facilitating cooperative action among citizens and institutions (Coleman, 1988) and has had considerable influence on political thinking and action over the past decade. It is generally observed and analyzed as a characteristic (or lack) of communities or societies, rather than individuals.