Discussion Chapter on "American Political Behavior"

Discussion Chapter 4 pages (1372 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

American Politcal Behavior

American Political Behavior

Different Types of Social Capital

Social capital refers to "the connections among individuals' social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them" (Putnam, 2000). Social capital might vary across different dimensions, but the defining or differentiating feature is on the bonding and bridging of the phenomenon. Bonding social capitals are inward looking while bridging social capital tends to be outward looking. Social capital is necessary just like financial, physical, and human capital in relation to the development of the society. Social capital relates to the development of the mutual feeling, which individuals create for one another in the form of trust and care. Church experiences bonding social capital within the society. Social capital is the super glue in the context of the church hence holding the religious members together. Religious members know each other by name; they share their properties in the name of the Lord hence building strong social capital. This type of social capital draws its features from the bible in the Old Testament. "Then the men of Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, 'Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We, in turn, will go with you into yours" (Judges 1:3). The church represents a place where individuals can build bonded social capital. The church indicates community of belonging (Putnam, 2000).

Members feel like they belong to one family while they are in the church. The church provides an ideal location that is neither home nor work place hence crucial for development of bonding social capital. Churches identify with relationships and connections thus resulting into strong social capital. According to Putnam, church represents a place where individuals can gain assurance to health while caring for the community or society. Social capital within the workplace represents bridging aspect of interaction and mutual relationship (Putnam, 2000). Bridging social capital enables the workplace to function effectively and efficiently despite the essence of diversity. Workplace comprises of individuals with unique cultural background hence requires social capital (bridging) to operate to their maximum. This is critical to the development of ethics of an organization or a company. Social capital within work groups allows for genuine relationships and healings. The binding factors for these employees are vision, mission, objectives, and goals of the company in the context. Bridging social capital can operate in similar groups but effective in diverse entities. Social capital within the church scenario can be present in both bonding and bridging forms hence stronger than workplace (Putnam, 2000).

Discussion 2 -- The Impact of Technology

Technology has diverse impact on the social capital. This refers to both positive and negative influences of technology in relation to diverse views of the society. At one point, the application of technology enhances the strength of social capital. This is because technology brings individuals together within the society while expressing positive influence across the diversity. For instance, the use internet platforms enable individuals to develop strong binds of interaction as they share crucial information globally (Winograd & Hais, 2009). Society differs on the rational influence of internet in relation to human beings. Internet enhances mobilization of people within the society while determines and improves the type of relationship in the community. Another instance is the use of television in the modern world. Television enhances political participation, religious participation, and business participation. This indicates increase on the social capital. Television provides the mode through which people communicate and relate to each other within the community. At the same time, television takes most of the individuals' time and time to acquire. These diverse impacts make it difficult to measure the impact of technology on social capital.

Discuss the role that the Church, the workplace and the internet play in the development of social capital and their impact on political behavior.

Church, workplace and the internet play different roles in relation to social capital and political behavior of the nation. The church offers the third location or place that is neither home nor workplace. In the church, individuals find the opportunity to interact freely… READ MORE

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