scholarly journals Toward local sustainability: Social capital as a community insurance in Kazakhstan

2021 ◽  
pp. 187936652110381
Author(s):  
Yuliya Darmenova ◽  
EunJoo Koo

This article focuses on how social capital, in the form of trust, reciprocal relations, and networks, has contributed to the sustainability of local communities in Kazakhstan in the face of various political and socioeconomic challenges. Drawing on qualitative data, we provide historical evidence of the persistence of locally derived social capital and investigate the ways in which it contributed to local sustainability in Kazakhstan. We first discuss how people in Kazakhstan have historically built and developed networks, reciprocal relations, and mutual trust under different political and economic institutions, for example, in the form of reciprocal labor aid as part of nomadic culture (e.g., “Asar”) and collective funds (e.g., “Kotel”) during Soviet times. We then offer an in-depth understanding of social capital as a form of insurance for local communities, and how it facilitates socioeconomic interactions in contemporary Kazakh society. This study contributes to the understanding of this traditional sense of trust and communal cooperation, as well as its viability in the context of a market economy.

Sociologija ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
-urednistvo

Paper presents the partial and idiosyncratic concluding overview of issues raised and discussed during the conference. In different contexts the turn to social capital seems to be a response to feelings that society is "at risk" in the face of radical change (albeit in quite different ways). Under these circumstances, social capital offers a particular sort of explanation of, and remedy for dealing with, perceived changes in the way we live. Conceptually social capital provides a link between families, communities and society, and practically it promises order and control. Three over-reaching perspectives on social capital were represented in the conference papers: erosion, new forms, and continued inequalities. Also methods in defining social capital and its operationalisation have been subject to much debate. The contributions to the "Social capital" conference show that debates about the nature, forms and effects of social capital are highly relevant across contexts.


Author(s):  
Khaulah Afifah ◽  
Lala M Kolopaking ◽  
Zessy Ardinal Barlan

Head of a village election with e-voting system is a new thing for community The success level of e-voting system can be reached by fulfil several principles in order to the implementation going effective and the result of the election can be accepted by all. The objectives of this research is to analyze the relation between the success level of e-voting system with social capital of the community. This research is carried out with the quantitative approach and supported by qualitative data. This research takes 60 respondents using simple random sampling technique. The results showed that the success level of e-voting has a correlation with the level of social capital of the community. Based on the field study, the social capital of the community is classified as high. The high social capital makes the implementation of e-voting successful and the success level is also high, because in the election ten years ago occurred a conflict. The community considers e-voting easier and more practical, cost effective and time-saving, and the results of e-voting are also reliable. A practical and fast of e-voting system can be a solution especially for “rural-urban” community who are busy or work outside the village.Keywords: E-voting, the success level of the system, social capital Pemilihan kepala desa dengan sistem e-voting merupakan hal yang baru bagi masyarakat. Keberhasilan penerapan sistem e-voting dilihat dari terpenuhinya beberapa prinsip agar penerapannya berlangsung efektif dan hasilnya dapat diterima oleh seluruh masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis hubungan tingkat keberhasilan sistem e-voting dalam pemilihan kepala desa dengan tingkat modal sosial masyarakat. Bentuk penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif yang didukung oleh analisis data kualitatif. Penelitian ini mengambil enam puluh responden dengan teknik simple random sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tingkat keberhasilan e-voting memiliki hubungan dengan tingkat modal sosial masyarakat. Berdasarkan kajian di lapang, modal sosial masyarakat tergolong tinggi. Tingginya modal sosial tersebut membuat pelaksanaan e-voting berhasil dan tingkat keberhasilannya juga tergolong tinggi karena pada pemilihan sepuluh tahun silam sempat terjadi konflik. Masyarakat menganggap sistem evoting lebih mudah dan praktis, hemat dalam segi biaya dan waktu, serta hasil dari pemilihan juga dapat dipertanggungjawabkan. Sistem e-voting yang praktis dan cepat dapat menjadi solusi khususnya bagi masyarakat daerah “desa-kota” yang memiliki kesibukan atau pekerjaan di luar desa.Kata Kunci: E-voting, keberhasilan sistem, modal sosial. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Cordeiro-Rodrigues ◽  
Thaddeus Metz

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, and in Africa, given the lack of resources, they are likely to be even more acute. The usefulness of Traditional African Healers in helping to mitigate the effects of pandemic has been neglected. We argue from an ethical perspective that these healers can and should have an important role in informing and guiding local communities in Africa on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Particularly, we argue not only that much of the philosophy underlying Traditional African Medicine is adequate and compatible with preventive measures for COVID-19, but also that Traditional African Healers have some unique cultural capital for influencing and enforcing such preventive measures. The paper therefore suggests that not only given the cultural context of Africa where Traditional African Healers have a special role, but also because of the normative strength of the Afro-communitarian philosophy that informs it, there are good ethical reasons to endorse policies that involve Traditional Healers in the fight against COVID-19. We also maintain that concerns about Traditional African Healers objectionably violating patient confidentiality or being paternalistic are much weaker in the face of COVID-19.


2000 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigino Bruni ◽  
Robert Sugden

It is a truism that a market economy cannot function without trust. We must be able to rely on other people to respect our property rights, and on our trading partners to keep their promises. The theory of economics is incomplete unless it can explain why economic agents often trust one another, and why that trust is often repaid. There is a long history of work in economics and philosophy which tries to explain the kinds of reasoning that people use when they engage in practices of trust: this work develops theories of trust. A related tradition in economics, sociology and political science investigates the kinds of social institution that reproduce whatever habits, dispositions or modes of reasoning are involved in acts of trust: this work develops theories of social capital. A recurring question in these literatures is whether a society which organizes its economic life through markets is capable of reproducing the trust on which those markets depend. In this paper, we look at these themes in relation to the writings of three eighteenth-century philosopher-economists: David Hume, Adam Smith, and Antonio Genovesi.


2011 ◽  
Vol 58-60 ◽  
pp. 359-363
Author(s):  
Ai Lin Zheng ◽  
Zhen Sheng Tao

Industrialization, information technology is a process of change of social capital. China's traditional social capital are mainly within the family, we must carry forward the expansion of traditional ethics and trust radius, The formation of the general trust in market economy, civil society organizations to promote the formation of modern social capital. Our government has an important role in formation of social capital.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-196
Author(s):  
Maja Dorota Wojciechowska

PurposeSocial capital, understood as intangible community values available through a network of connections, is a factor in the development of societies and improving quality of life. It helps to remove economic inequalities and prevent poverty and social exclusion, stimulate social and regional development, civic attitudes and social engagement and build a civic society as well as local and regional identity. Many of these tasks may be implemented by libraries, which, apart from providing access to information, may also offer a number of services associated with social needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the roles and functions that libraries may serve in local communities in terms of assistance, integration and development based on classical social capital theories.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the classical concepts of social capital in the context of libraries. It analyses the findings of Pierre-Félix Bourdieu, James Coleman, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam, Nan Lin, Ronald Stuart Burt, Wayne Baker and Alejandro Portes. Based on their respective concepts, the paper analyses the role of the contemporary library in the social life of local communities. In particular, it focuses on the possible new functions that public libraries may serve.FindingsA critical review of the concept of social capital revealed certain dependencies between libraries and their neighbourhoods. With new services that respond to the actual social needs, libraries may serve as a keystone, namely they may integrate, animate and engage local communities. This, however, requires a certain approach to be adopted by the personnel and governing authorities as well as infrastructure and tangible resources.Originality/valueThe social engagement of libraries is usually described from the practical perspective (reports on the services provided) or in the context of research on the impact of respective projects on specific groups of users (research reports). A broader approach, based on original social theories, is rarely encountered. The paper draws on classical concepts of social capital and is a contribution to the discussion on possible uses of those concepts based on an analysis of the role of libraries in social life and in strengthening the social capital of local communities.


Author(s):  
Nia Kurniati ◽  
Reginawanti Hindersah

Objective - The objective of this study is to identify the food security characteristics in local communities at Napan Village, Nusa Tenggara Timur Indonesia and to study the implementation of agrarian reform principles covering asset reform and access reform, in achieving food sustainability. Methodology/Technique - The method used is a normative judicial method. The data is analysed through qualitative judicial means, supported by Focus Group Discussion, to obtain primary qualitative data. Findings - The results show that synchronization of agrarian reform programs, including asset reform with "Food Intensification Program" along with "Social Forestry Program", reinforce farmers' rights over their farmlands and assure farmland tenure and ownership. The approach of "access reform" by means of the "Food Intensification Program", integrated with government intervention, might serve as the base for achieving the inclusivity and continuity of food sustainability in Napan Novelty - This study highlights the need for central and local governments to accelerate food production in underdeveloped regions through asset and access reform programs. Land Certification, Social Forestry Program, and the Food Intensification Program can all be implemented to strengthen farmers' land rights as well as their productivity. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Agrarian Reform; Food Security; Napan Village; Indonesia. JEL Classification: Q1, Q18.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Vida Dehnad

Adaptation to change is not an easy process and sometimes does not happen at all. When people perceive that theirfreedom is going to be altered due to an unwanted change, they outwardly exhibit some symptomatic reactivebehaviors such as inertia, resistance, skepticism, and aggression. No matter how intense people’s reactance is, only afew of them may manage to examine the unwanted change more deeply and find a way to conform or adapt. Knowingthis, the current article focuses on a theoretical proactive model or a solution. The model mainly works on the idea ofrecognizing the symptomatic behavioral reactance of learners. In other words, in the face of the reactance-inducedbehaviors depicted in the model, the instructors can apply four proactive strategies of brainstorming, open transparentconversation, small scale project assignment and triple “c” rule by means of which they can walk learners safelytowards mutual trust, classroom stability and learner commitment. In the end, as the model is new, there is still enoughroom for further experimental researches on different aspects of the model in actual classroom settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Richards ◽  
John Reed

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate how social capital is developed in a third sector organisation based in the north-west of England, a small food cooperative run by volunteers. Social capital comprises the bonds, bridges and linkages that hold together societal members, and it can be considered to be a precursor of economic capital. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative data were collected through interviews with key informants, observations and documents. Data were analysed using either a template or a thematic analysis to identify aspects of social capital development. Findings – A model of the interactions between and within the three main stakeholder groups involved in the cooperative is presented. This model shows how these interactions can develop social capital, and it discusses how potential deficits in social capital can occur. Research limitations/implications – The findings have practical and theoretical implications, in that they may better equip third-sector organisations to understand how social capital is developed. Originality/value – This is one of few practical studies of social capital development in a social enterprise and provides valuable insights into the processes by which this is done.


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