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Palgrave Macmillan

Beyond Social Capital

The Role of Leadership, Trust and Government Policy in Northern Ireland's Victim Support Groups

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Laura K. Graham

    1. Peace and Justice Studies Program, Tufts University, Medford, USA

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Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Compromise after Conflict (PSCAC)

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxii
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  2. Civil Society

    • Laura K. Graham
    Pages 1-15

  3. Rethinking Social Capital

    • Laura K. Graham
    Pages 17-43

  4. Inside Victim Support Groups

    • Laura K. Graham
    Pages 45-75

  5. Leadership Matters

    • Laura K. Graham
    Pages 77-106

  6. Bonding, Bridging, and Constricting

    • Laura K. Graham
    Pages 107-143

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 145-171
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Keywords

About this book

Drawing on lessons from civil society in Northern Ireland, Beyond Social Capital examines the limitations of social capital theory in deeply divided societies. It draws on an ethnographic study of victim support groups and evidence from policymakers in Northern Ireland to reconceptualize the traditional bonding-bridging distinction in social capital theory. The role of leadership is particularly significant, as the book highlights the complex and compelling ways in which leadership supports and shapes the activities, practices and motivations of the victim self-help industry in Northern Ireland. Multiple dimensions of this industry are explored, including: social and victim policy; private, statutory, and voluntary sector collaboration; the political motivations of victim support groups; and the types of social capital being built in victim groups and the impact that this social capital has on victims and wider elements of the peace process.
 
Importantly, Laura K. Graham challenges the prevailing notion that all forms of social capital are inherently good for civic organizations and associational life. Instead, a new form of social capital existing in divided and post-conflict societies is advanced. This form of social capital, called 'dysfunctional bonding', may have negative impacts, causing distrust within and outside a group and can be particularly problematic for those traumatized by political conflict. With international relevance, this book willbe of great interest to those working in post-conflict studies as well as victim studies.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Peace and Justice Studies Program, Tufts University, Medford, USA

    Laura K. Graham

About the author

Laura K. Graham is a Lecturer in Peace and Justice Studies at Tufts University, USA. She is a Tisch College Faculty Fellow and Principal Investigator on the Voices of Ferguson study of policing and justice in Ferguson, Missouri, USA.

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