The Efficacy of Community-Based Management Approach toward Strengthening Bridging Social Capital and Reducing Social Exclusion (Case Study: Rigan County, Kerman Province)

Document Type : علمی

Authors

1 University of Tehran

2 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

Abstract

Extended abstract
1. INTRODUCTION
Regarding the significance of social capital in reducing social exclusion, the present study investigates the impact of community-based approach for strengthening bridging social capital and reducing social exclusion through applying social network analysis pre and post RFLDL community-based project implementation. Accordingly, heads of micro development committees of four villages including Ziaratshah, Dehreza, Rostam Abad-e- Ali Charak, and Aliabad Hashtsad Metri were scrutinized.
2. METHODOLOGY
Applying survey method and through direct observation and interview with target groups, the nodes of the network including the micro-development committee heads (as the main decision makers in each sub-group) were specified in each region. These individuals (33 persons) were elected by villagers in four villages, i.e., Ziaratshah, Dehreza, Rostam Abad-e- Ali Charak, and Aliabad Hashtsad Metri. Trust and participation ties of heads were examined for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of this project aimed at investigating the bridging ties and measuring out-group social capital. The network analysis method used in this study was whole network method which scrutinizes all network members. Eventually, the gathered data were analyzed using UCINET software version 6.507. Indicators including density, reciprocity, transitivity of ties, and average geodesic distance were studied.
3. DISCUSSION
It was found out that the level of density of trust and participation ties of heads of the four villages increased following project implementation. Enhancement of density leads to higher trust, participation, and social capital which in turn increases reciprocity of trust and participation ties following project implementation. Enhancement of this indicator makes the network of heads more optimally sustainable. The average geodesic distance of trust and participation ties in the four villages was 2.05 and 2.09, respectively. These reached to 1.61 and 1.67 following project implementation. As the average geodesic distance value was near to 1, it is inferred that the speed of information and resource transfer among members was high and it is also indicative of high unity. Once the project was accomplished, the level of this value was evaluated moderate. E-I indicator of out-group trust doubled in the four pilot villages and regarding participation indicator, it increased 1.5 times as much as pre-project implementation. This in turn contributes significantly to enhancement of bridging social capital and consequently reduction of social exclusion.
It is argued that RFLDL project implementation in this village could have successfully led to trust building and provided favorable ground for participation and collaboration among heads of the rural development committees so that as more ties formed among members, bridging social capital also increased. Social capital can provide suitable condition for access to other human and financial resources and reduction of social exclusion. The level of institutionalization of traditions and local customs in one hand and sustainability and balance of network on the other hand was assessed moderately based on trust and participation ties. Strengthening of mutual relations for sustainability of network and improving social capital is therefore required. Fortunately, once project was through, it was revealed that this occurred at an optimum level. Regarding the significance of the speed of coordination in co-management process, reinforcement of trust and especially participation tie for boosting the speed of transfer, less average geodesic distance among individuals besides less time required for coordinating and uniting local beneficiaries are fundamentally important. Based on E-I indicator, it can be asserted that implementing local community's empowerment project (RFLDL) in four regions of Rigan District resulted in higher bridging social capital which in its turn reduced social exclusion.
4. CONCLUSION
Through sociological perspective, enhancement of social participation as an integration-oriented policy will lead to less social exclusion. Since higher bridging social capital is followed by less social exclusion, it is argued that RFLDL project which increased out-group relations, lessened social exclusion in pilot areas. Considering the significance of bridging social capital for reducing exclusion, reinforcement of bridging ties within a network is critically essential and is the main communication channel of micro development committee heads in the four regions. Comparing the pre and post project implementation conditions, it can be asserted that this project fell effective in strengthening the relations between villages. Improved social capital led to better participation and communication of individuals with one another and exclusion reduced, accordingly.

Keywords


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