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Subject: Fw: [tamil] COMMUNITY FORMATION AND SOCIAL CAPITAL IN AUSTRALIA
Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 07:43:45 +0530
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From: "Bala Pillai"
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----- Original Message -----
From: Indran
To:
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 9:46 AM
Subject: [tamil] COMMUNITY FORMATION AND SOCIAL CAPITAL IN AUSTRALIA
> Folks,
> FYI .... http://www.aifs.org.au/institute/afrc7/giorgas.pdf
>
> Cheers,
> Indran
>
> Abstract
>
> An ethnic community’s social capital encompasses resources available to an
> individual
> through their membership in that community or group. It involves the
shared
> feelings of
> social belonging that enable groups to set up institutions and other
> networks that
> members can access. Social capital in these communities exists in the
> social relations
> among parents, between parents and their children and their relationship
> with the
> institutions of the community.
>
> This paper explores ethnic community formation and social capital among
six
> groups:
> Germans, Dutch, Hungarians, Poles, Italians and Greeks. It argues that
> social capital
> within the family is particularly important in overcoming deficiencies in
> other forms of
> capital; although it can only be successfully utilised when close
relations
> exist between
> parents and children. Thus cultures that place greater emphasis on the
> family and are
> collectivist in nature, such as Greeks and Italians, are more likely to
> utilise social
> capital. In contrast cultures that have an individualistic focus, for
> example, Germans and
> Hungarians, are more likely to under-invest in social capital.
>
> Moreover, social closure is important for social capital to be effectively
> facilitated.
> Closure helps facilitate norms and creates trustworthiness, allowing for
> the proliferation
> of obligations and expectations. In an open community, groups are less
able
> to sanction
> behaviour because of the absence of mobilising forces and reduced
consensus
> in regards
> to standards (Coleman 1988: S106-107).
>
> Overall, the findings of this paper suggest that ethnic community
formation
> has served
> as a positive strategy for immigrants in overcoming social isolation and
> economic
> difficulties by providing employment opportunities and a sense of familial
> surroundings
> within their own ethnic group. Social capital is utilised more effectively
> by groups with
> stronger cultural boundaries and a collective sense of identity.
>
