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Writer's pictureDr. Adrianne Wilson

The Power of Social Capital

If social capital is about networks, relationships and associations, then it is critical to understand the role of bonding and bridging. Terrion (2006) reported the first critical concept as bonding. Bonding involves connecting to those who are familiar. The connection is through like backgrounds, education levels and socio-economic status. Everyone desires to belong and feel a sense of purpose. Bonding can occur between individuals but also connects groups because of commonalities. Terrion (2006) reported the second critical concept as bridging. Bridging is connecting with those who are different. Bridging is developing relationships outside of the familiar network. Bridging is important because information can be received from this type of relationship that can benefit both the heterogeneous and homogeneous communities. For many who are segregated due to race and/or socio-economic status, it is often difficult to have access to those relationships outside of the familiar network. “Social capital often reinforces homogeneity because individuals tend to bond with those that are similar limiting the opportunities for bridging social capital.” Tilly (1998) and many others reference the role of bonding and bridging in social networks recognizing that issues such as race, class and poverty can create additional challenges. According to Blokland and Savage (2008), “Bridging social capital can simultaneously create bonding social capital as it defines those ‘insiders’ in comparison to ‘outsiders’ with whom bridges are made. Bridging and bonding social capital become two aspects of one and the same process. Weak ties do not guarantee bridges, and strong ties do not guarantee bonding.” For many students in poverty, bonding and bridging relationships can exist but might not be at the same level for students who have more resources. Social Capital makes a difference in not only educational outcomes but it can impact even criminal sentencing.


When I examined the lives of two criminals, Bernie Madoff and Mumia Abu-Jamal, I noticed the differences even in their sentencing had so much to do with access to information and individuals of influence. Their trajectories were definitely a result of their educational experiences and the relationships those opportunities offered. Although Bernard Madoff and Mumia Abu-Jamal are both incarcerated now for life, their journeys are very different as a result of their birth, circles of influence, education and opportunities for advancement which is important to note. Madoff benefited from an upbringing with both parents that afforded him a college education and one year of law school. He was an entrepreneur that built a multimillion dollar firm that was responsible for billions of dollars of assets. He was able to network and influence many rich and notable individuals for over twenty years. His involvement in charitable organizations and many boards such as serving as the Chairman of NASDAQ provided him with access to individuals with resources. Even after returning much of the money that was stolen from investors, his wife was still allowed to keep $2 million dollars. His sons even at the time of his incarceration had borrowed millions from their father. The access to this type of wealth was not the case for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mumia Abu-Jamal grew up in a single-headed household with siblings in the projects. The Black Panthers became a father figure for him and he dropped out of high school. Even though he returned to school to receive his high school diploma, he still worked part time jobs and even drove a taxi cab to support himself. Living in a poor area of Philadelphia also offered limited options. He did not have circles of influence that provided access to wealth and individuals who were notable. His children have grown up without a father most of their lives and did not inherit any wealth. He also was plagued with racism, classism and police abuse during a time of heightened racial tension which played a role in his incarceration.


Robert Putnam (2000), the modern-day father of social capital, states in his work that communities with high social capital typically have lower crime, higher civic engagement and educational outcomes. In examining the lives of Abu-Jamal and Madoff, it is obvious that social capital or the lack thereof assisted in the development of their lives as it does with all of us. The implications of quality, bonding and bridging relationships can have a long-term impact especially for students in poverty because of the access to new information, role models and opportunities that are not shared in their existing networks.


Learn more about the origins of this post and social capital at: http://www.advanc-ed.org/source/role-social-capital-create-change





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