Social capital within ethnic communities

Abstract

An ethnic community’s social capital encompasses resources available to an individual through their membership in that community or group. It involves the shared feelings of social belonging that enable groups to set up institutions and other networks that members can access. Social capital in these communities exists in the social relations among parents, between parents and their children and their relationship with the institutions of the community. This paper reviews some of the literature on ethnic community formation and social capital with special reference to six groups: Germans, Dutch, Hungarians, Poles, Italians and Greeks. It argues that social capital within the family is particularly important in overcoming deficiencies in other forms of capital; although it can only be successfully utilised when close relations exist between parents and children. Thus cultures that place greater emphasis on the family and are collectivist in nature, such as Greeks and Italians, are more likely to utilise social capital. In contrast cultures that have an individualistic focus, for example, Germans and Hungarians, are more likely to under-invest in social capital. Moreover, social closure is important for social capital to be effectively facilitated. Closure helps facilitate norms and creates trustworthiness, allowing for the proliferation of obligations and expectations. In an open community, groups are less able to sanction behaviour because of the absence of mobilising forces and reduced consensus in regards to standards (Coleman 1988: S106-107). Overall, I argue that ethnic community formation has served as a positive strategy for immigrants in overcoming social isolation and economic difficulties by providing employment opportunities and a sense of familial surroundings within their own ethnic group. Social capital is utilised more effectively by groups with stronger cultural boundaries and a collective sense of identity. Show more