Social capital, regeneration and urban policy

This paper seeks to do a number of things. First, to give an account of the emergence of social capital as a very prominent element within policy discourse related to concerns with social exclusion and social inclusion. Second, to explain what is meant by the term social capital and describe its components and the forms it can take at the individual and collective or community level. Third, to show how social capital is linked to neighbourhood renewal goals such as community empowerment and to urban policy goals such as community cohesion. Lastly, to explain why the current Government is so keen on social capital, exploring its links to Third Way ideology, the objective of 'joined-up policy' and the broader aim of 'democratic renewal'. The paper first appeared as a chapter in Imrie,R. and Raco,M. Eds. (2003) Urban Renaissance? New Labour, Community and Urban Policy. Bristol: The Policy Press. Further details of this and other related publications can be found at: www.policypress.org