The Role of the Social Capital in Rural Development. Case Study Analysis of Village Research Camps in Romania and Hungary

Abstract Social capital represents an increasingly used term in social sciences, but its application in rural development is not widespread. In this study, we assess the social capital of villages where we have organized village research camps over the past decade. The research utilizes a specific methodology, synthesizes the research carried out in the village research camps. Methods included statistical data analysis, questionnaire survey, interviewing, and participant observation. Among the results, we found that the social capital of the studied villages and the condition of their local communities are different. These also affected the effectiveness of development activities. The study examined the role of social capital and how the development of social capital can contribute to the development of villages. In summary, our assumption is that there is a link between social capital and rural development, but this relationship is not always evident or one-way.