Last update: 09/09/03. Thank you for visiting  Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.  

Social Capital, Rationality and Community

Events in the 2000 - 2001 NU System Social Capital Series

Adding precision to social capital as an analytical construct

NOTE: For the 2003-2004 Seminar Series, which starts on October 10, 2004, click here.

Nov.  10, 2000:   Dialogue about the paper: 

Woolcock, M.  "Social Capital and Economic Development: Toward a Theoretical Synthesis and Policy Framework."   Theory and Society  27 (1998): 151-208 (Click here for the Nov. 10 PowerPoint presentation). For a list of the 48 citations of this paper since its publication only 2-years ago, click on this Adobe file.  

            Dialogue leaders:   Gary Lynne and  Linda Price

            Where:  UNL-CBA 222 

Nov. 10, 2000:  Dialogue about the future of the Group, including an invitation for participation by others throughout the NU System (Click here for the Nov. 10 points and outcomes).  It was decided that for the immediate future we should focus on a continuing dialogue of published papers and books on social capital. 

Dec. 8, 2000:  Dialogue about two of James Coleman's (rational choice sociology) works.  Both the journal paper and the book chapter are available electronically (just click on it!).  A paper copy of the book chapter is also on reserve in both Love and C.Y. Thompson libraries under G. Lynne, L. Kathleen, and L. Price,  "Social Capital."

Coleman, J.S. "Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital." Amer. J. Sociology  94 (Supplement, 1993):  S95-S120

Coleman, J.S. "Social Capital." Chapter 12  in Foundations of Social Theory.   Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1990 ( paperback version in 1994): 300-321.

            Dialogue leaders:  Jeff Chambers and Lyn Kathleen

            Where:  UNL-CBA 222

Jan. 12, 2001:  Continuation of Coleman paper (For PowerPoint presentation, click here):

            Dialogue Leader:   Lyn Kathlene 

            Where:  UNL-CBA 222.

Feb. 9, 2001:   Canceled due to weather.

Mar. 9:  Paper is available through UN-L Electronic Reserve: Click on the title.  Your Browser will have to be configured to reach this location.  See details at the UN-L Main Catalog Site:

M. Paldam and G. T. Svendsen.  "An Essay on Social Capital: Looking for the Fire Behind the Smoke." European  J. Pol. Econ. 16(2000):  339-366.

            Dialogue leader:  Azzeddine Azzam.

            Where: UNL-CBA 222

Apr. 13:   Papers available through UNL-Electronic Reserve under the AECN Seminar:

Putnam, R. D.  "Tuning In, Tuning Out:  The Strange Disappearance of Social Capital in America."  

Bennett, W. L.  "The UnCivic Culture:  Communication, Identity, and the Rise of Lifestyle Politics."   

Also, Putnam's original paper "Bowling Alone" is available at: 

 http://iris.unl.edu/search/jjournal+of+democracy/jjournal+of+democracy/1,1,1,B/l856&F=jjournal+of+democracy&1,,0,1,0

The specific reference is:  Putnam, R.D.  "Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital." Journal of Democracy 6 (1995):  65-78.

            Dialogue leader(s):   Lyn Kathlene and Gary Lynne (Click here for PowerPoint presentation on Tuning In, Tuning Out)

            Where:  UNL-CBA 222