Theories of Social Capital: Researchers Behaving BadlyTracing the evolution of social capital since his highly acclaimed contribution of 2001 (Social Capital Versus Social Theory), Ben Fine consolidates his position as the world's leading critic of the concept. Fine forcibly demonstrates how social capital has expanded across the social sciences only by degrading the different disciplines and topics that it touches: a McDonaldization of social theory. The rise and fall of social capital at the World Bank is critically explained as is social capital's growing presence in disciplines, such as management studies, and its relative absence in others, such as social history. Writing with a sharp critical edge, Fine not only deconstructs the roller-coaster presence of social capital across the social sciences but also draws out lessons on how (and how not) to do research. |
Contents
From Rational Choice to McDonaldisation | 12 |
The Short History of Social Capital | 36 |
The BBI Syndrome | 60 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
analysis analytical application approach argued associated attached Bank's Bebbington BGOW Bourdieu bridging Chapter civic civil society Coleman concept conflict context contributions critical management studies critique cultural definition degradation deployed despite discipline diverse economic history economics imperialism economists effect emphasis empirical engage especially ethnicity example explain factors form of social game theory gender global globalisation Grameen banking Grootaert historians impact of social incorporate individual inequality institutional economics institutions intellectual interaction Journal labour least legitimising less limited mainstream economics market imperfections McDonaldisation measurement methodological individualism Milonakis Morgan Spurlock neo-liberalism non-economic non-market notion offered opposed organisation outcomes participation political economy positive potential practice presence promote Putnam rational choice recognised relations relationship Robert Putnam role shift social capital literature social capitalists social networks social sciences social theory structural suggests surprisingly trust universal variables Washington Consensus Wayism whilst women World Bank