Where does social control end and social capital begin? Examining social space, conflict, and the politics of difference

The intent of this paper is to widen understanding of social capital to incorporate not only the structure of relations between individuals but also the creation of space; not just the development of consensus but also a place for conflict; and to examine the creation of social capital in a way that also honours individual identity and acknowledges systemic oppression. Here, the structural discussion of social capital is augmented by an examination of power and human agency. This discussion helps to deepen understanding of three characteristics of social capital identified in the literature: that people who contribute to the development of social capital and people who benefit from it may be different; actions that produce social capital in one circumstance may not produce social capital in others; and people have uneven access to stocks of social capital. Where understanding of social capital began in network analysis and later took a cultural turn, this article adds a critical and psychological perspective.