Inventory, course and semiotics of social capital in Paraguay (2002-2013)

• Main Author: José Carlos Rodríguez
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad Nacional de Asunción 2017-06-01
• Series: Población y Desarrollo
• Subjects: territories; citizenship; civil society; social networks; development
• Online Access: http://scielo.iics.una.py/pdf/pdfce/v23n44/2076-054X-pdfce-23-44-00034.pdf

This paper investigates what characterizes social capital in Paraguay. It take as reference a recent SC inventory published by ID. Social capital in general is defined by mutual trust, respect for norms and the existence of links that form social networks. It has the effect of promoting democracy and supporting economic development. In our country, SC is higher in rural areas. Its increase can be seen as the effective use of civic forms that had been simulated during the authoritarian past. Trust, empowerment, information and pluralism remain very low. There are no contiguous areas with stable traditions. These characteristics may have to do with the fragility of civil society in Paraguay, drastic changes in territorial settlement and also with economic and social changes, as well as the novelty of republican institutions, especially at the local level. There are new forms of urbanization and of rural society. Democratization is new and not sufficiently entrenched. The processes of decentralization and relocation have not given rise to a geography of defined social capital.