Routledge Urban Social Capital: Civil Society and City Life

This volume presents a kaleidoscopic view of the norms and forms of contemporary city life, focusing especially on the processes of social capital (de)formation in the urban milieu. It brings together studies from highly diverse urban settings, such as squatter re-settlement projects in Kathmandu, urban funeral societies in Africa, an HIV/AIDS community in Los Angeles, the poor of Harare, pensioners in Shanghai, Maori gangs in Auckland, and a Roma boxing club in Prague, among others. Contributors draw on contemporary theory and research in social capital, political economy, urban planning and policy, social movements, civil society and democracy to explore how social norms, networks, connections and ties are created, deployed - and often frayed - under conditions of social complexity, inequality, cultural pluralism, and the ethno-racial diversity and division characteristic of urban contexts throughout the world. In this way, the volume engages in a genuinely globalized - and globalizing - discussion of contemporary urban social life and stands as a unique and timely interdisciplinary contribution to the ever-expanding literature devoted to social capital. Review 'This is a book that adds major insights to our understanding of how social capital is constituted and transformed in the city. This in-depth and cross-cultural examination gives us unexpected findings about the diverse contradictions of urban social capital.' Saskia Sassen, Columbia University, USA 'Comprised of very interesting and original papers on dimensions of social capital in cities across the globe, from Kathmandu to Baltimore, Los Angeles to Shanghai, this volume makes a strong case that public policy must focus on constructing spaces that enhance cross-group interactions as well as improving income inequality and construct integrative spaces as quickly as possible. It discusses both positive and negative aspects of urban social capital using a variety of disciplinary lens and approaches, and contains an innovative use of both qualitative and quantitative data. The collection represents the next step in rigorous application of analysis to the concept of social capital in cities.' Amrita Daniere, University of Toronto, Canada About the Author Professor Joseph D. Lewandowski, Department of Philosophy & Dean of The Honors College and Professor Gregory W. Streich, Department of Government, International Studies, and Languages, both at The University of Central Missouri, USA