Social capital and community resilience in disaster contexts: a multiple case study from Colombia

Introduction This study analyses the role of social capital in community resilience to disasters. Although there is broad consensus on its importance, there is still a need to distinguish the specific contribution of its different forms (bonding, bridging, and linking) throughout the phases of the risk management cycle (preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation). Methods To address this gap, a multiple case study with a qualitative approach was developed, comparing three communities exposed to hydrometeorological risk in Colombia: Salgar and Mocoa, municipalities impacted by the country’s deadliest flash floods in the last decade, and La Primavera, a community with high exposure to risk where a major disaster has not yet occurred. Results The findings confirm the centrality of social capital in community resilience throughout all phases of the risk cycle and broaden understanding of the phenomenon by identifying psychosocial processes, such as collective memory and social learning, that mediate this relationship. The analysis shows differentiated and complementary effects of each type of social capital evidencing that the sustainability of resilience depends on its dynamic articulation within collaborative risk governance frameworks. Likewise, the results suggest that, although disasters can weaken binding social capital, the bonds that persist constitute the basis for rebuilding the social fabric through solidarity practices and shared norms. Discussion The study shows that social capital is an important condition for community resilience, but not sufficient on its own, as resilience also depends on other types of capital and on institutional and governance factors. In this regard, limits and ambivalent effects of social capital on risk management are identified. Finally, the research contributes to the literature by highlighting its relevance in the mitigation phase, which has traditionally been less explored.