Reimer, Bill, Tara Lyons, Nelson Ferguson, and Geraldina Polanco (2008) “Social capital as social relations: the contribution of normative structures” Sociological Review, 56:2, pp256-274.


Abstract
This paper presents a framework for social capital that highlights the normative structures
through which it is manifested. The primary focus is on the ways that norms structure the
relationships in which social capital is embedded. To this end, we introduce four types of
normative structures which condition social capital: market, bureaucratic, associative, and
communal. A field site in Japan is used illustrate how different aspects of social capital interact.
This case analysis also serves to make an important distinction between the availability and use
of social capital. The central arguments are that 1) social capital is organized in different ways b
the normative structures in which it is embedded; 2) there are important interactions between
these different aspects of social capital that are often overlooked by simpler frameworks; 3) a
useful distinction can be made between available social capital and used social capital; 4) acces
to social capital can be used to analyze power relations; and 5) distinguishing different aspects o
social capital makes areas visible that are overlooked by other understandings of social capital.
We conclude by identifying the utility of our perspective for informing public policy and guidin
future research.