نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسنده

• رضا صفری شالی

دانشیار گروه جامعه‌شناسی، دانشکده ادبیات و علوم انسانی، دانشگاه خوارزمی، تهران، ایران

چکیده

 
ماندگاری هر جامعه انسانی به سطحی از سرمایه اجتماعی وابسته است. نوشتار حاضر به تحلیل سرمایه اجتماعی در میان مردم ایران با توجه به یافته‌های پیمایش‌های ملی (سال‌های 1394، 1397 و 1400 ه.ش) می‌پردازد. نتایج نشان‌دهنده کاهش سرمایه اجتماعی در برخی ابعاد، به‌ویژه در حوزه‌های مربوط به اعتماد و رضایت نهادی و سازمانی است. وضعیت سرمایه اجتماعی در این حوزه‌ها در بازه 0 تا 100، از نمره 50/43 در سال 1394 به میانگین نمره 75/36 در سال 1400 کاهش یافته است. این شرایط بر اساس «نظریه سرایت» بر کاهش امید به آینده اجتماعی و پایین آمدن چشم‌انداز مثبت نسبت به آینده جامعه تأثیرگذار بوده است. به همین دلیل، افراد طبق «نظریه جبران» به سرمایه‌گذاری در حوزه‌های فردی و بین‌فردی روی آورده و سعی دارند برای آینده فردی یا گروهی خود سرمایه‌گذاری کنند که این امر نشان‌دهنده شکل‌گیری نوعی سرمایه اجتماعی جزیره‌ای است. نکته امیدوارکننده این است که نوعی ارتباطات اجتماعی مبتنی بر فضای مجازی و همچنین روابط حرفه‌ای، صنفی و علایق مشترک به‌جای سرمایه اجتماعی خویشاوندی و طایفه‌ای در حال شکل‌گیری است که نشان‌دهنده چرخش در برخی از اشکال تعاملات و مناسبات در جامعه امروزی می‌باشد.

کلیدواژه‌ها

• سرمایه اجتماعی
• اعتماد اجتماعی
• اعتماد نهادی
• امید به آینده
• ارتباطات اجتماعی

موضوعات

• جامعه شناسی

عنوان مقاله [English]

An Analysis of Social Capital Among Iranians (A Macro-Level Conceptualization of Social Conditions)

نویسنده [English]

• Reza Safarishali

Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran. Iran

چکیده [English]

 
The sustainability of any human society depends on the level of social capital. The present article analyzes the social capital among Iranian people according to the findings of national surveys (2015, 2018 and 2021). The results show a decrease in social capital in some dimensions (especially in the areas related to institutional and organizational trust and satisfaction). The state of social capital in the mentioned areas in the range of 0 to 100 has reached an average score of 36.75 in 2021 from a score of 43.50 in 2015; According to the "contagion theory", such conditions are effective in reducing hope for the social future and lowering the positive outlook towards the future of the society, and therefore, according to the "compensation theory", people invest in individual and interpersonal fields and try to to invest for their individual or group future, which shows the formation of a kind of island social capital. Of course, the important point is that social communication for virtual space, as well as professional and union relations and common interests instead of kinship and clan social capital, etc., is showing a change in some forms and relations of today's society.
Keywords: Social Capital, Social Trust, Institutional Trust, Hope for the Future, Social Relations.
 
 

Introduction

A comprehensive understanding of the conditions, trends, causes, processes, contexts, and factors that either strengthen or weaken social capital is a fundamental and preliminary step in the process of assessing and strategically managing this social and political foundation. However, the main issue, according to studies conducted on social capital in our country, is that in recent years, the primary dimensions and components of social capital (such as participation, trust, and hope for the future) have decreased. For instance, social and political trust within the society in 1400 AH (2021 AD) has declined compared to surveys conducted in 1394 and 1397 AH. Despite this decline, the significance of social capital cannot be overlooked. An encouraging aspect is the emergence of new forms of social interaction based on virtual spaces, as well as professional, occupational, and shared interest-based relationships, which are gradually replacing kinship and tribal-based social capital. This shift indicates a transformation in certain forms of interaction and social relations within contemporary society.

Literature Review

The Legatum Institute is one of the international organizations that measures social capital. The institute conducts global and regional assessments of countries. According to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2021, Iran ranked 89th globally (among 167 countries) and 8th in the Middle East in terms of social capital. Safari Shali and Ghafari (2017 and 2021) conducted two consecutive waves of a national survey titled 'Assessment of Social Capital in Iran'. The findings revealed that levels of social capital at the micro and Middle levels were more prevalent than at the macro level in both waves. The national-level assessment of social capital indicated a downward trend across all three levels, with scores (on a scale of 1 to 100) of 50.43, 36.25, and 36.75 in 2015, 2017, and 2021, respectively. A relevant foreign study by the UK Statistics Authority (2020) reported an 11% decline in trust in the national government in the UK by autumn 2019.

Methodology

This study employs a holistic, documentary approach to conduct a secondary analysis of social capital in the country, utilizing data from multiple waves (2015, 2018, and 2021) of national social capital surveys. While the findings, presented in subsequent sections, are categorized into broad themes, the study's statistical population encompasses individuals aged 16 and above, both male and female, residing in all 31 provinces of the country. Data was collected using researcher-developed questionnaires that adhered to rigorous reliability and validity standards, ensuring the robustness of the findings. The sample size for each wave ranged between 12,000 and 17,000 individuals, with a deliberate effort to ensure that each provincial sample was representative of its respective population.

Results

It is noteworthy that, globally, countries rarely exhibit an average social capital score exceeding 50 (in the range of 1-100). To understand the trends in social capital findings within the country (in the years 2015, 2018, and 2021), we will first present descriptive findings of social capital at various levels.
Table 1.  Analysis of Social Capital Levels Across Different Waves in the Country




Domain (1-100)


Average of Social Capital




2021


2018


2015




27.25


33.25


38.75


Macro Level




37.25


39.75


48.00


Middle Level




45.75


35.25


44.00


Micro Level




36.75


36.25


43.50


Overall




Results from the social profile of social capital, measured at the country level based on demographic variables, indicated that individuals residing in "smaller cities (less populated cities)", "women", those in the "55+ age group", individuals with "low literacy or high school diplomas", "retirees", and "married individuals" exhibited higher levels of social capital compared to other groups.

Discussion

In sum, the most critical role of social capital is to foster law-abiding behavior and a culture of order and security. This means that citizens are aware of their social rights and obligations and refrain from violating them. Such a practice ensures the survival of the law and prevents a tendency toward disorder, norm-breaking, and lawlessness. Nonconformity, as a social problem, threatens social health and erodes social capital, leading to the formation of distrust in institutions. Acceptance of social norms and regulations increases empathy, unity, and reduces social conflict.
It can be argued that in the absence of social capital, civic ethics, community, altruism, and humanitarianism lose their credibility and prestige. If individuals and social groups are also morally dysfunctional, they become confused about identifying goals and means of achieving them. They experience a conflict between theoretical and practical ethics and do not act based on norms and rules. Consequently, they lose the motivation to participate in public affairs.

Conclusion

strengthening social capital today requires social and cultural policymaking. Thus, governmental and non-governmental policymaking organizations in this area should make every effort to enhance social capital indicators (trust, sense of security, participation, satisfaction, joy and hope, sense of national belonging, etc.) in the process of socialization. Accordingly, fundamental actions should be taken in the following areas in a process-oriented manner:
In a general overview, strategies and solutions for social capital can be categorized into three levels:

Strategies and solutions aimed at formal institutions and structures
Strategies and solutions aimed at the community and civil society
Strategies and solutions aimed at intermediary social institutions and mechanisms

Acknowledgments
I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Country's Social Affairs Organization and the Research Deputy of Kharazmi University, as well as to all project collaborators, from the scientific council to all field researchers in 31 provinces, for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks are extended to the project's scientific advisor, Dr. Gholamreza Ghaffari, and to the translator of this extended abstract, Mr. Pejman Barkhordari.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

• Social Capital
• Social Trust
• Institutional Trust
• Hope for the Future
• Social Relations