Social capital and community representation: How multiform networks promote local democracy in Los Angeles

Juliet Musso and Christopher Weare
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Juliet Musso: University of Southern California, USA
Christopher Weare: University of Southern California, USA

Urban Studies, 2017, vol. 54, issue 11, 2521-2539

Abstract: This paper examines the variant roles that specific forms of networked-based social capital play in supporting the democratic functions of a neighbourhood governance network in Los Angeles. A significant body of empirical work has demonstrated the positive role that social capital plays in the functioning of civil society, but there has been less attention to the manner in which different types of network-based social capital promote support efficacy of multifaceted civic organisations. This paper utilises network measures from a survey of the members of a neighbourhood governance network in Los Angeles to explore the associations between types of network ties – within group; among groups; to different external stakeholders – and perceived self-efficacy of the member associations. We find that internal cohesion, or bonding social capital, promotes both advisement of city officials and promotion of local participation, suggesting that this network-based resource is fungible. Other network structures appear to have value in different contexts, in that stakeholder connections promote participation, while bridging social capital is associated with perceived success in advising city officials. The findings suggest that architects of participatory reform should be attentive to system goals in establishing supports for varying forms of system relationships.

Keywords: collective action; community; community representation; governance; local democracy; neighbourhood participation; social capital; 集体行动; 社区; 社区代表; æ²»ç †; 地方民主; é‚»é‡Œå ‚ä¸Ž; 社会资本 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:54:y:2017:i:11:p:2521-2539

DOI: 10.1177/0042098016650359

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