Social Capital and its Role in Community Affiliation (A Field Social Study in Al-Diwaniyah Governorate)

Abstract

This study attempted to uncover the role that social capital plays in activating the culture of integration, community belonging and pride in national identity, in light of this, the present study aimed to reveal the nature of the concept of social capital, its development, its social dimensions, the mechanisms of its formation and its societal sources, it also discussed the issue of measuring social capital, reviewing a number of indicators that researchers have reached, as these indicators are: leadership level, public participation, cooperative relations network, trust capital, and membership of formal organizations, the study also tried to identify the changes that occurred to social structures such as family, relatives, neighbors, official and civil institutions, in addition to knowing the relationship between civil society and social capital in Iraqi society by studying the interaction of the study community members with civil society institutions in Iraq and their impact on the society’s stock of capital social. To achieve these aims, the researcher used several methodological procedures such as the case study approach in addition to activating the observation method. The approach was applied through an in-depth interview form and in order to that, the current study reached an important conclusion which is that social capital - that is, the social capabilities of the individual or society is of great importance in achieving social integration and social interaction and enhancing belonging to society and the homeland in a way that enhances the economic and social advancement of society.