This research investigates the impact of social capital on fostering supply chain resilience (SCR) and examines whether SCR mediates the relationship between social capital and sustainable performance (SUP). Addressing a recognized gap within supply chain research, particularly within emerging economies, this study adopts a multidimensional view of social capital, encompassing its structural, cognitive, and relational aspects. The results suggest that all three dimensions of social capital positively influence SCR, which in turn is associated with enhanced sustainable performance. Notably, the findings indicate that SCR may serve as a key mediating mechanism through which social capital translates into performance gains. By integrating perspectives from social capital theory and resilience literature, this research provides an empirically grounded and contextually nuanced understanding of how inter-organizational relationships foster adaptive capacity and sustainability outcomes. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on relational capabilities in supply chain management and offers practical implications for firms seeking to enhance competitiveness through social connectivity and resilience development, particularly in developing country contexts.
Thi et al. (2025) studied this question.