Social Capital, Civil Society , and Democracy (Mutual or One-Sided Relationship)

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Social capital is among the society-based theories that are a serious focus for social thought in the contemporary era. However, the multi-dimensional links of this concept with economic, political, cultural and social issues have in practice made its recognition and explanation difficult so that determining its use and limits and giving it a standard general definition is quite hard. So producing social capital and providing the prerequisites of developing civil society and democracy depend on a precise recognition of these concepts and their relation and interaction. This article has focused on structural dimension of social capital and considered voluntary associations and organizations as a focal knot for growth and reinforcement of social capital, civil society and democracy

Keywords