Last update: 09/09/03. Thank you for visiting Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
NOTE: Click here for the Events during the 2000-2001 series and the 2002-2003 series.
Sept. 14: RESCHEDULED to Sept. 21, due to the terrorist attacks in New York / Washington and Remembrance Friday.
Sept. 21: Dialogue on the paper, with an overview provided at the outset by G. Lynne:
Paxton, P. 1999. "Is Social Capital
Declining in the United States? A Multiple Indicator Assessment."
American Journal of Sociology, 105, 1 (July): 88-127. (Available through
JSTOR; for *.pdf file,
click here. For a PowerPoint overview,
click here ).
Abstract: Despite a great deal of interest in a possible decline
of social capital in the United States, scholars have not reached a consensus on
the trend. This article improves upon previous research by providing a model of
social capital that has explicit links to theories of social capital and that
analyzes multiple indicators of social capital over a 20-year period. The
results do not consistently support Putnam's claim of a decline in social
capital, showing instead some decline in a general measure of social capital, a
decline in trust in individuals, no general decline in trust in institutions,
and no decline in associations.
Oct. 16 (Event held at the EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL, downtown Lincoln, with lunch provided): Meeting jointly with the research project team for the project "Social Capital: Enhancing Measurement While Also Contributing to Improved Understanding and Policy." This project includes faculty from Iowa State, Michigan State, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, involving 2-sociologists and 5-economists. (UN-L participants include John Allen, Sam Cordes of the Center for Rural Innovation and Gary Lynne, Ag Econ and School of Natural Resource Sciences). The project is funded through the USDA-NRI competitive grants program. The team is applying a modified version of the contingent valuation methodology to measuring social capital in a rural community in Nebraska (specifically, in Aurora, Nebraska). The goal is to determine if social capital makes a real difference to community viability, by focusing on developing a monetary estimate of its value. We will meet with the project team and share experiences in applying the social capital construct. Also, both Lindy Robison (economist, Mich. State) and Vern Ryan (sociologist, Iowa State) are involved in Social Capital Interest Groups; this will be an opportunity to build social capital across universities, and to do some networking between the NU System Group and these other two Interest Groups.
Nov. 9: Dialogue led by Bob Mittelstaedt Putnam's "Bowling Alone" book ( See BowlingAlone PowerPoint presentation), and on the paper presented by Linda Price (See WeakTies PowerPoint presentation).
Granovetter, Mark S. 1973. "The Strength of Weak
Ties." American Journal of Sociology 78, 6 (May 1973): 1360-80.
Click here to download from JSTOR site ).
Abstract: Analysis of social networks is suggested as a tool for
linking micro and macro levels of sociological theory. The procedure is
illustrated by elaboration of the macro implications of one aspect of
small-scale interaction: the strength of dyadic ties. It is argued that the
degree of overlap of two individuals' friendship networks varies directly with
the strength of their tie to one another. The impact of this principle on
diffusion of influence and information, mobility opportunity, and community
organization is explored. Stress is laid on the cohesive power of weak ties.
Most network models deal, implicitly, with strong ties, thus confining their
applicability to small, well-defined groups. Emphasis on weak ties lends itself
to discussion of relations between groups and to analysis of segments of social
structure not easily defined in terms of primary groups.
Also see paper on building "Weak Ties" through the Internet:
Blanchard, A. and T. Horan. "Can We Surf Together If We're Bowling Alone?..."
Dec. 14: "Measuring Social Capital."
Fleura Bardhi (Marketing), John Horvick (Sociology) and Susie Pryor (Marketing)
will be leading dialogue on the question of measuring social capital. See
following readings:
"Social Capital Assessment Tool" at World Bank site.
"Measures for Community Research" at Aspen site.
"Measuring Social Capital in Five Communities..." at New South Wales, Australia site.
Narayan, D. and M. Cassidy. "A Dimensional Approach to Measuring Social Capital" Current Sociology 49,2 (March 2001): 59-102.
Jan. 18 (Note: this is the 3rd Friday, due to the University not opening for classes until January 14): Dialogue, with appropriate journal papers to also be read, will be spurred by the recent Atlantic Monthly article on "red" (more conservative) v. "blue" (more liberal, in the modern sense of this term) America. This article highlights the apparently widening gap between these two cultures. From the social capital frame, we might argue these represent alternative sets of networks and norms, in effect different kinds of social capital, with implications for trust as between red and blue.
Suggested readings (Watch this site: More will be added before Jan. 18!):
Lakoff, G. Moral Politics: What Conservatives Know That Liberals Don't. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Feb. 8 Note: We (I !) misread the calendar, thinking that the 2nd Friday had to be the week of Feb. 11th!) and we did not get a paper scheduled for Feb. 8; so we have canceled the February meeting. Our next scheduled meeting is March 8 (Not to make the same mistake again: March is another month where the 1st in on a Friday!)
Mar. 8 Dialogue on the paper (click on title for download, with Acrobat Reader):
Flora, J. L. "Social Capital and Communities of Place." Rural Sociology 63, 4 (1998): 481-586.
Apr. 12 Diana Naghi will lead the dialogue on a book and journal article as follows:
Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1984 (See the PowerPoint presentation by Diana Naghi, giving an overview of this book).
Holt, Douglas B. "Does Cultural Capital Structure American Consumption?" J. Consum. Res. 25 (June, 1998): 1-25. (Available through JSTOR: Simply click here from a UNL campus location).
May 13 NOTE THIS IS NOT OUR NORMAL MEETING DAY, but rather is a Monday.
Presenters will be: Cornelia Flora, Director, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development and Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Sociology; and Jan Flora, Extension Community Sociologist and Professor of Sociology, both at Iowa State University
(see the paper by Jan Flora that we read and discussed on March 8 for a sampling of their work). We are also very fortunate to have the financial and other support of the Agribusiness Program (Linda Price, Agribusiness Co-Director); the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (John Allen, Director); and the Public Policy Center (Alan Tomkins, Director). Please thank them for bringing this event to the UNL campus in support of our Social Capital Interest Group!
PowerPoint presentations used by the Flora's during the May 13 event(s) are available here as Click Points:
"National Rural Microenterprise Policy: Entrpreneurship and Community"
"Entrepreneurial Social Infrastructure: Bridging and Bonding Social Capital"
We will not be meeting on a regular basis during June, July and August. Also, it is not too early to start planning the Fall Series, starting in September, 2002 (especially if we would like to bring in some outside speakers). Send your suggestions, volunteer to organize (creative formats encouraged) and lead an Event!
World Bank Reading List on Social Capital. Social Capital Interest Group at Michigan State University.
NU System - Social Capital, Rationality and Community Reading List
Ideas and Articles on Social Capital.
Papers on Social Capital and Trust
Send e-mail to LISTSERV@UNL.EDU . In the message field (not the subject), type:
SUBSCRIBE SOCIALCAPITAL
Contact Gary Lynne, Lyn Kathlene, and/or Linda Price with questions and suggestions, especially regarding references to papers, books you think we need to add to the Reading List and/or consider during a session.