Student Number : 0506739P -
MA research report -
School of Social Sciences -
Faculty of Humanities / In this study, the positive correlation between social capital and economic performance as well as
between social capital and political engagement, documented in the vibrant social capital literature, is revisited
with focus on the experience of Congolese immigrants in Central Johannesburg. The core research question aims
at establishing whether Congolese immigrants with higher stock of social capital turn out to be better economic
performers and more politically engaged agents.
The investigation has used both quantitative and qualitative methods. The major data collection
instrument has been a survey questionnaire that has reached a relatively representative sample of 100 Congolese
immigrants living in Yeoville, Berea, Hillbrow, Parktown, and Braamfontein. Informal interviews, direct
observation, and previous literature has provided more qualitative information that has helped to account for
statistical trends.
While the Congolese immigrant community displays vibrant associational life and intensive social
interactions, the predominance of religious associations, the scarcity of socio-economic organisations and the
prevalence of bonding ties affect Congolese immigrants’ ability to benefit from their general high capacity to
interact with others. The study has also found that voluntary associations may just have symbolic value as they
do not represent support structures on which members rely to handle their daily challenges. Instead, family
members and fellow Congolese friends constitute the most important social support. As for the correlation
between social capital and economic performance, the model has been found valid but its explanatory power
weak. Social capital can only partly account for Congolese immigrants’ economic performance. Its impact on
their level of political engagement is equally weak. Social capital’s weak influence on Congolese level of
political engagement has to do with the apolitical tendency of most religious associations, individuals’ lack of
English proficiency, and poverty. South Africa institutional constraints to immigrants’ socio-economic
integration, disempowering features of Congolese associations, individuals’ marginal position within networks
and the general absence of resources have also been singled out as major justification of Congolese immigrants’
social capital powerlessness.
This study contributes to the existing social capital debate at least in three respects. Firstly, it shows that
measuring individuals’ social capital on the basis of associational life can be misleading. In some communities,
voluntary associations may not be the most important source of social capital. Secondly, Congolese immigrants’
social capital powerlessness illustrates that social capital productivity is function not only of social
interactions but also of broad institutional context. Thirdly, political engagement does not just follow from
associations’ attendance. An apolitical association such as Jehovah witness church or an association attended
mainly by undereducated people may still build organisational skills, but insulate participants from the political
community.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/2040 |
| Date | 16 February 2007 |
| Creators | Mavungu, Mazembo |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 706512 bytes, 111623 bytes, 49783 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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