Paper info

Net Social Capital Processes

Geoff Easton and James L. Bowey

The paper was published at the 20th IMP-conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2004.

In this paper we attempt to articulate the concept of ?net social capital?, that is thesocial capital that is external to but influences the actions in a dyad. We distinguishbetween dyadic and net social capital, internal and external net alter actors, dyadicand net action / processes and the dimensions of social capital. The nature of thesecategories is illustrated by means of a case study of the nets that a single focalindividual actor, Richard, a Canadian entrepreneur, is a member of. In particular, wefocus upon his membership of the Groupement Quebecoise, a voluntary association ofelite business owners and presidents that provides a forum for discussion and action ina close-knit supportive context.