Voluntary associations and social capital—inclusive and exclusive dimensions

Abstract

The term “social capital” has in recent years become a fashionable, even glamorous buzzword in social science and politics. It gained popularity at the end of the 1970s, particularly through the works of Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman, and Robert Putnam. With their varied understandings of this term, they gave inspiration to disparate discussions over the condition and future of modern societies. Based on this framework and with a special focus on the conceptual debates in Germany, this chapter raises the question how voluntary associations might contribute to democracy and welfare.