Role of physical infrastructure in urban neighborhoods on the formation of social capital

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• M. Ardashiri
• Kh. Hajipoor
• S. Hakimi

Abstract

Social Capital could be considered as one of the indicators in the concept of Sustainable Development; hence, in a sustainable society, a higher degree of social capital would be expected. But Social Capital is the product social interactions (both quantitatively and qualitatively), which could be mainly obtained through the Social Networks in urban communities. Meanwhile, the sense of Social Cohesion, Social Trust and Social Control, all of which are today considered as the significant components of Social Capital, especially in the theoretical and literature debates, are formed and organized in Urban Communities. The best known means to build Social Capital components in urban neighborhoods and communities, would be the physical and spatial qualities of the place through which the Social Network would occur at the community as a result of the formation of more desirable Social Interactions. The local mosque, central plaza and park, sidewalks, streets, shops, etc. are some kinds of places in which we could expect these interactions to happen. Therefore, the physical quality of urban space would be obviously a decisive issue in the formation of these relationships. In other words, the Social Organization in Urban Communities would be considered as a spirit blown into its corps, its physical aspect and undoubtedly, its health and state would therefore depend on the physical aspects of the neighborhood. Reviewing and analyzing the literature for the concept of Social Capital and its components, in this paper, we would be expressing the role of the urban communities’ physical structure in creating Social Capital in order to achieve some guidelines based on researches and queries.
 

Keywords

• Community
• Structure of Urban Community
• Social Capital
• social cohesion

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