The paper analyzes social capital's properties in relation with the level at
which it is generated, as a type of social capital. The second part of the
paper is dedicated to examining of possibilities for implementation of the
concept of social capital in various social and political circumstances.
Analysis of the Putnam's concept of social capital in reviewing of the
process of democratization of post-communist societies has shown that
assessment of the social capital?s role in democratic transition of these
societies must take into account specific social and political circumstances
which influenced social capital's trends and forms. In contrast to
economically developed societies with long democratic traditions, it turned
out that social capital in former communist societies developed and moved in
almost opposite directions. It is characterized by competitiveness,
non-community spirit and exclusivity. This may be explained by predominant
informal associating forms as a survival strategy in conditions of
deprivation and ideological mobilization at the time of communist party
states which during transition turned into suspicious conversions of various
capital types. It is an open issue how much the social capital concept is
applicable in post-communist societies of Eastern and Central Europe and how
it should be designed for the purpose of adequate implementation in creating
of social policies.
Positive and negative aspects of social capital: The case of postcommunist societies