Abstract
Social capital refers to the features of social organisation such as networks, behavioural norms, trust and reciprocity that increase a society’s productive potential. High social capital (HSC) rural groups will be more resilient and able to adapt to social, economic and environmental shocks, and improve household and community livelihoods.
Based on case study research conducted in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Myanmar conducted between September 2015 and September 2017, this chapter describes the social capital attributes of high performing but low-income farmer and pastoralist groups, and highlights why these attributes are important for enabling such groups to adapt, survive and prosper in the face of climate change impacts and increasing threats to food security. It identifies those factors common to many of the case study groups that contributed to the construction of social capital. Finally, the chapter makes recommendations for those organisations that wish to build social capital in order to enhance a community’s ability to adapt to shocks and threats (including climate change adaptation), as well as enhancing food security status.
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Notes
- 1.
Social capital literature distinguishes between bonding social capital (strong social ties) and bridging social capital (weak social ties). Bonding social capital generally refers to inward-looking social relationships that reinforce and bind homogeneous groups. Bridging social capital refers to outward-looking linkages to other groups (Halpern 2005). Both concepts are relevant to rural development.
- 2.
Injunctive social norms (sometimes termed ‘moral’ norms) are those behaviours considered by a society to be appropriate or expected (e.g. treating elders with respect). Social proofnorms (sometimes termed ‘descriptive’ norms) are those behaviours that are adopted because of our perception that many others in society are doing the same, for example, adopting a new farm technology or practice because many other farmers are doing so.
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Prior, J., Thaw Ni Ni Zaw, Hassen, J.Y., Toperesi, E. (2019). Social Capital, Adaptation and Resilience: Case Studies of Rural Communities in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. In: James, H. (eds) Population, Development, and the Environment. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2101-6_7
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