人と人とのつながりをさす「ソーシャル・キャピタル」と、自発的に地域の問題解決や社会的価値の創出に取り組む「市民社会」とは、どのような関係にあるのか。本書は、日本におけるソーシャル・キャピタルの概念や動向を市民社会の様々な視点から論じている。また、政策と実践において、ソーシャル・キャピタルを創出し活用すべく提言が行われている。ソーシャル・キャピタルという視点で日本社会を見つめ直し、人と人や地域がつながる力を再生させ、市民社会を成熟させるための示唆をえられる、貴重な一冊である。全英文。
[Book description]
This book is about social capital―social relationships such as trust, norms and networks that facilitate cooperation among members of a community. Based on a thorough review of the concept of social capital, it discusses trend of social capital in Japan from a civil society perspective, in particular, emerging nonprofit organizations as well as some aspect of traditional neighborhood associations. Nonprofit organizations, which voluntarily have been trying to solve social problems and to create new social values, have an important role in creating social capital. Nonprofits in Japan have successfully created, accumulated and utilized social capital in various fields. The role of nonprofits and various actors in community in creating and utilizing social capital in policy and practice are also discussed. It gives a reader an opportunity to reconsider the Japanese society from a social capital perspective, and to think how to revitalize trust and connections among people and community for their well-being and invigorating civil society.