This thesis analyses how the effect of unemployment on life-satisfaction varies in different contexts using data from two large-scale surveys (the World Values Survey and the European Values Study). Over 40 Western-European and Anglo Saxon countries are included in the investigation. Through multilevel modelling, relevant national-level factors are identified that moderate the impact of unemployment upon life-satisfaction relationship. The study shows that in particular sociodemographic and cultural country-level variables affect how individuals experience unemployment and how it is insufficient to rely on economic indicators only. In order to situate individuals in not only their national context, but also in their personal one, social capital constructs are integrated into the project reflecting the networks individuals are part of. More accurate estimates of the unemployment effect are calculated using structural equation modelling to control for endogeneity effects. The results show that the role of unemployment for life-satisfaction appears to be highly contextualised. After taking into account selection biases from socioeconomic characteristics of an individual as well as their social capital resources, the negative effect of unemployment upon life satisfaction that is consistently found cannot be verified as robust and independent. Instead, different domains of social capital largely determine what effect unemployment has on life-satisfaction for different individuals. Furthermore, significant variation in the effect of unemployment between countries, found in the simpler multilevel models, largely disappears when personal context is taken into account. This implies that future investigations should reconsider how to contextualise individual-level processes regarding subjective well-being. The findings from this project suggest that instead of contextualising the direct effects of predictors on life-satisfaction with country-level factors, it may be more appropriate to contextualise the personal context people live in and investigate the effects at the individual level thereafter. The results are discussed in a framework contrasting utility-based micro-economic approaches to understanding human behaviour with approaches that address subjective well-being emphasising the variety of human motivations, beyond profit maximisation.

The coal industry exercises a pervasive influence on mining communities in Appalachia, even though it exerts enormous damages on the environment and makes limited contributions to employment and the advancement of the communities. One explanation for this paradox offered by Bell is a depletion of social capital among coalfield residents in Central Appalachia (2009). Her data suggests that the “ripping away” of the region’s strong union identity lead to a resocialization, “from a ‘we’ mentality to an ‘I’ mentality, thus demising the store of social capital” (2009:655). My research aims to interpret how social capital resources among union miners was translated to solidarity in the mining community, and how the union generated social capital and fostered solidarity among miners and their families. This research finds that the union was both a creator and a preserver of social capital. The coalfield residents demonstrated a high degree of social capital and solidarity in terms of a sense of reliability, dedication to collective activities, and intimate extended networks. Furthermore, the union’s strategies of holding regular meetings, organizing large-scale strikes, promoting collective identity, securing public benefits, and electing charismatic leaders were of great significance for the production of both social capital and solidarity.

Their poverty condition and inadequacy of government assistance at all levels (from federal to state to local) in Igbo communities of South-eastern Nigeria propels the locals to explore the self-help pathway in cooperative association as an alternative means for addressing their collective and individual needs. Over the years, the cooperative ideal has become a sustainable model of support for the Igbos of this region particularly in the rural village communities. However, the advancement of this form of livelihood in the area is fraught with many difficulties ranging from members’ distrust of government development policies, ‘nominal’ (defunct and struggling) cooperative formation, poor membership education/illiteracy, group leadership problems, youth urban migration, group patron clientism, urban-rural encroachment and group gender disparity issues. Social capital is arguably the dominant concept for examining cohesion and cooperative acts among people (Bourdieu, 1997 and Putnam, 2000). ‘Trust and reciprocity’, as principle attributes of social capital that condition most sustained cooperative interactions among members of the groups, is examined in this thesis. This research also assesses the inter-linking (bridging) bond that exists between the cooperative groups, their communities (including dispersed community members elsewhere in Nigeria and abroad) and the government. For example: Why do the ‘nominal’ cooperatives in the study communities lack this attribute? Does ‘trust’ determine the type of attention that community cooperatives receive from their government? What factor(s) facilitate assistance from the government and other community development groups especially the diaspora? Are there avenues to achieve best practice in these relationships for sustained cordiality? The thesis applies the Igbo cultural understanding of social capital as ugwu in discussing relational bonds within select cooperatives and non-cooperative farmer groups in the study communities using field tools adapted from the World Bank’s Social Capital Implementation Framework (SCIF). Previous studies conducted by some African scholars such as Uchendu (1965), Mbiti (1969), Njaka, (1974), Ekeh, (1975), Iroegbu, (1997), Ohadike, (1994), Korieh (2006), Nwagbara, (2007) were drawn upon in the discussions. The researcher adopted a mixture of qualitative (un-structured interviews) and quantitative methods (questionnaires) in gathering and analysis of data. The research found that members of active smallholder cooperative societies uphold their mutual integrity (ugwu) and membership ties but contrastingly adopt a prebendalist attitude (similar to the ‘nominal’ cooperatives) in interactions with the government. Cooperative societies’ ‘ugwu’ - social capital - bond did not necessarily antecede bridging social capital particularly at interactions with the government. The research recommends that since ‘ugwu’ is central in Igbo cooperative life; the government could work closely with local institutions to formalize and strengthen this and in the process rebuild bridging trust with the locals. The churches and other traditional community institutions are mediators that could help in this process. It is hoped this study will help encourage best practice in smallholder cooperative functions and rural development practice.

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the discussion of social inclusion and sport programs for marginalized people by giving voice to program participants and volunteers, while critically examining the tensions inherent in such programs. Presented as a case study of the Victoria Dreams—using realist and creative ethnographic representations—this research study offers important insights on the social dynamics of street soccer and strives to contribute to the larger body of research on sport, and social inclusion. An original fictional representation, and four interviews illuminate the culture and experiences of Victoria Dreams street soccer players and volunteers. Social Capital theory is used as a guiding framework to explore both bridging and bonding links. The results address central issues including: the importance of friendship and integration; eating together; motivation, self-confidence and the role of competition. The discussion offers further exploration of key points including: access and inclusion; the role of tournaments; social capital theory; communication and leadership; and fictional representation as a research genre. A number of future research directions are offered, in the hope of adding to the street soccer experience and adding to the research base on sport and social inclusion. Notably, it is suggested a community-based participatory action research project could help improve the delivery of street soccer and ensure more participants and volunteers are engaged. / Graduate / 0575 / 0534 / julmac16@hotmail.com

This dissertation is concerned with the extent to which the use of information and communication technology can (re-)create social capital and local community in an urban environment. Will the new technologies lead to new forms of social inclusion or to the creation of a digital divide? How have social networks, social support, trust and sense of community been affected by the rapid development of the Internet? In the literature there is disagreement between writers who see the technology as a new basis for social inclusion, social capital and community (e. g. Wellman, 1997; Rheingold, 2000; Lin, 2001) and others who see it as a threat, leading to new forms of exclusion and a decline in face-to-face contacts ( e.g . Slouka, 1995;Stoll, 1995). A combination of qualitative and quantitative data from a study in a relatively disadvantaged area of Stockholm is used to evaluate the impact of two computer projects, a Local Net and an Internet Cafe. Each of the projects was aimed at encouraging digital inclusion and at enhancing social contacts and the sense of community. The findings show that Local Net largely failed to achieve its goals and was abandoned two years after its inauguration. In its place an Internet Cafe was established, which seems to be achieving many of the goals that were set out in its prospectus. Visitors to the Cafe, who include many representatives of disadvantaged groups, have acquired useful computer skills. The IT-Cafe, with is provision of subsidised public access, in formal support and training, makes its visitors feel more included in the Information Society as well as in the wider society. The visitors also have more local friends, express stronger social trust and perceive less tension in the than non-visitors. The Internet Cafd is regarded as an offline as well as online meeting-place with positive impacts on social integration, and Internet use is associated with networking, exchange of support and information seeking.

Background. Access to health care in northern and rural communities has been an ongoing challenge. Training undergraduate medical students in regional sites is one strategy to enhance physician recruitment and retention in rural regions. With this goal in mind, in 2004, the Northern Medical Program was created to bring undergraduate medical education to Prince George. The NMP is also hypothesized to have wider impacts on the community. This study aimed to describe perceptions of the broader impacts of the NMP. Methods. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with community leaders in various sectors of Prince George. The interviewer probed about perceived current and anticipated future impacts of the program, both positive and negative. A descriptive content analysis was performed. A conceptual framework of hypothesized impacts was created based on the literature and a model of neighbourhood social capital by Carpiano (2006). Findings. Comments were overwhelmingly positive. Impacts were described on education, health services, economy, politics, and media. Some reported negative impacts included tension between the NMP and other departments at UNBC, and a strain on health system resource capacity. Participants also reported that the NMP has impacted social capital in the region. Social capital, defined as the resources belonging to a network of individuals, was a pervasive theme. Impacts on social cohesion, various forms of social capital, access to social capital and outcomes of social capital are described. Conclusions. The full impact of the NMP will likely not be felt for at least a decade, as the program is still relatively new to Prince George. Findings suggest that an undergraduate medical education program can have pervasive impacts in an underserved community. Evaluation of the impact of such programs should be broad in scope. Findings also suggest that impacts of the program on other community sectors and on social capital may in fact lead to greater human capital gains than originally anticipated. A comprehensive communication strategy should be developed and maintained to ensure continued stakeholder support for the program. Next steps include identifying key quantifiable indicators of community impact to track changes in the community over time.

This thesis reports on research carried out in five Neighbourhood Houses in a disadvantaged area. The main aims of the research are two-fold and inter-related. They are to describe the work of the Neighbourhood Houses from the perspective of the women who attend them and those who work there; and to analyse the role and functions of the Neighbourhood Houses from the standpoint of feminist theories of womens wellbeing and of theories of social capital. / Following a brief history of the Neighbourhood House movement the thesis describes the qualitative methodology- semi-structured interviews- that was utilised to gather information from the thirty five recruited participants about their experiences at the Neighbourhood Houses. The womens voices provide richly detailed accounts that reveal not only the womens self understandings of their needs and aspirations but also much about the internal politics of the Neighbourhood Houses as well. This data is clearly connected with theories of womens wellbeing in terms of the positive impact that attending Neighbourhood Houses has had on these womens lives. / Social capital theory, recognised here as a large and growing body of theoretical work, is initially described in terms of Putnams approach as his work is seen as being responsible for the popularisation of the concept. A comprehensive account of critiques of Putnams approach give rise to questions about its appropriateness for the analysis of small mutual aid/ social care organisations, such as Neighbourhood Houses. The issue of positioning the work of small social care institutions in relation to social capital theories becomes a focal question for the thesis. / The case for Neighbourhood Houses actively contributing to social capital was found to be somewhat ambiguous. In terms of Putnams theory the outcomes of their activities and operations do not appear to be sufficiently prominent to support the claim that they contribute to social capital in any significant way. However, in terms of the work of Bullen & Onyx (1998) and Cavaye (2002) that focuses on the importance of the contributions of group and individual social capital to the overall accumulation of social capital, the findings of this thesis find firmer ground. Ultimately, the thesis argues for a less rigidly defined, more in-depth definition and understanding of what constitutes social capital, whilst at the same time retaining Putmans basic elements of trust, reciprocity, networks and the common good to underpin the concept of social capital. / The achievements of this thesis, like its aims, are two-fold. I have shown how Neighbourhood Houses can be seen to be quasi-government organisations whose socially responsible operations meet the needs of a vulnerable, disadvantaged and politically overlooked group in society. And importantly, this work has been instrumental in making the work of these little-known and under-funded social institutions more visible. Also, by interrogating the work of Neighbourhood Houses in terms of theories of social capital I have shown that they have connections with and contribute to the wider community fabric in a number of significant ways that are not always visible to the wider community. / As such, this thesis has engaged in the ongoing debate about the usefulness of social capital theory, which in certain quarters has been adopted as a potential panacea to transform existing social problems with minimal policy change or increased resources. The perspective urged here is a much more cautious reading of social capital theory that takes into consideration the contextualization of its application. The thesis concludes with a plea for increased government recognition and resources for Neighbourhood Houses to enable them to more actively participate in their own wider communities. / Thesis (PhDEducation)--University of South Australia, 2005.

As China develops and progresses as a nation, unique patterns of social mobility are emerging. For many years a centrally planned economy, the country is now a hybrid economy characterised by its authoritative political structure while allowing its entrepreneurs to experiment with innovative ways to accumulate wealth and ‘get ahead’. The research is particularly interested and aims in understanding how a specific group of people, namely the home-grown entrepreneurs, have been able to achieve social mobility within the contemporary Chinese economy. It focuses on the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. Suzhou was chosen as the research setting because, since the beginning of the 1980s, it has been rapidly transformed into a business and industrial centre by implementation of economic reforms shaped by Deng Xiaoping and the production of infrastructure, such as the Economic and Technological Development Zones, from Communist Party initiatives. Home-grown entrepreneurs were ready to take advantage of the booming business opportunities by using their personal resources and networks afforded by the economic reforms that introduced foreign direct investment to coincide with private business reform. Specifically, it examines how the economic reforms have fostered conditions that allowed home-grown entrepreneurs to emerge and prosper and, in turn, how these entrepreneurs cultivate and utilise their social capital to form strategies to create pathways leading to social mobility. Qualitative research uncovers the social mobility of these entrepreneurs by interviewing in-depth a total of 50 home-grown entrepreneurs from different generations currently operating in Suzhou. The research reveals that while the economic reforms did provide a favourable environment for conducting private businesses, it has been equally important for each generation of home-grown entrepreneurs to take specific risks and seize opportunities to acquire various forms of social capital and to adjust personal values and imposed goals to reflect the complex social and political dynamics of their times. They had to make appropriate decisions to consolidate their businesses through careful consideration and manipulation of a variety of social capital. While social mobility may seem more accessible under the new hybrid economy, business failures and growing social inequalities have not been uncommon. Data analysis provides insights to conclude that the research may construct a new normative theory about a value driven society with economic aspirations within social controls constructed by authoritarian capitalism. As home-grown entrepreneurs begin to dominate, they are not only redefining how various forms of social capital should be linked to trajectories for social mobility, increasingly they are also transforming the social landscapes of China’s business world.

As China develops and progresses as a nation, unique patterns of social mobility are emerging. For many years a centrally planned economy, the country is now a hybrid economy characterised by its authoritative political structure while allowing its entrepreneurs to experiment with innovative ways to accumulate wealth and ‘get ahead’. The research is particularly interested and aims in understanding how a specific group of people, namely the home-grown entrepreneurs, have been able to achieve social mobility within the contemporary Chinese economy. It focuses on the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province. Suzhou was chosen as the research setting because, since the beginning of the 1980s, it has been rapidly transformed into a business and industrial centre by implementation of economic reforms shaped by Deng Xiaoping and the production of infrastructure, such as the Economic and Technological Development Zones, from Communist Party initiatives. Home-grown entrepreneurs were ready to take advantage of the booming business opportunities by using their personal resources and networks afforded by the economic reforms that introduced foreign direct investment to coincide with private business reform. Specifically, it examines how the economic reforms have fostered conditions that allowed home-grown entrepreneurs to emerge and prosper and, in turn, how these entrepreneurs cultivate and utilise their social capital to form strategies to create pathways leading to social mobility. Qualitative research uncovers the social mobility of these entrepreneurs by interviewing in-depth a total of 50 home-grown entrepreneurs from different generations currently operating in Suzhou. The research reveals that while the economic reforms did provide a favourable environment for conducting private businesses, it has been equally important for each generation of home-grown entrepreneurs to take specific risks and seize opportunities to acquire various forms of social capital and to adjust personal values and imposed goals to reflect the complex social and political dynamics of their times. They had to make appropriate decisions to consolidate their businesses through careful consideration and manipulation of a variety of social capital. While social mobility may seem more accessible under the new hybrid economy, business failures and growing social inequalities have not been uncommon. Data analysis provides insights to conclude that the research may construct a new normative theory about a value driven society with economic aspirations within social controls constructed by authoritarian capitalism. As home-grown entrepreneurs begin to dominate, they are not only redefining how various forms of social capital should be linked to trajectories for social mobility, increasingly they are also transforming the social landscapes of China’s business world.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2008. / Adviser: Charles C. Manz. Includes bibliographical references.