Capital and Capabilities

Key Theorists

Pierre Bourdieu

• French philosopher and sociologist known for his critical perspectives on power structures within society.

• Critiqued the over-reliance on economic capital as the sole measure of empowerment, arguing for a more nuanced understanding of societal influences.

• Key ideas:

  • Power and social order are transmitted across generations, demonstrating that empowerment is not solely financial.

  • His seminal work, "Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste" (1979), explores how taste and class are interlinked, influencing societal hierarchies.

Bourdieu's Influence

• Influenced by notable theorists:

  • Max Weber: Emphasized how social systems are shaped by imposed orders and recognized the role of social stratification in governance.

  • Karl Marx: Focused on the relationships of power within society, particularly the struggles between classes.

• Bourdieu's work underlines the complexity of societal structures beyond simple binary definitions, highlighting how various forms of capital interact.

Bourdieu's Capitals

• Social Capital:

  • Represents the connections among individuals and organizations, emphasizing shared identity, trust, and cooperation.

  • Divided into:

  • Bonding Social Capital: Cohesion within a group, fostering strong relationships among members.

  • Bridging Social Capital: Connections across diverse groups fostering inclusiveness and broader networks, even if challenging to establish.

• Cultural Capital:

  • Comprises skills, competencies, and educational qualifications that shape individual identity and social perception.

  • Discusses how cultural resources are not always convertible to economic capital, as they often define one's societal status and influence.

• Financial Capital:

  • Represents the monetary resources and assets that contribute to economic stability and growth for individuals and communities.

• Symbolic Capital:

  • Relates to prestige, recognition, and cultural value, influencing social dynamics and positioning within societal hierarchies.

• Human Capital:

  • Includes skills, knowledge, and abilities possessed by individuals that are essential for participation in the economy.

  • These skills can contribute significantly to personal and communal development.

• Natural Capital:

  • Encompasses natural resources and environmental assets, such as waterways, forests, and wildlife, critical for sustainable community development and ecological balance.

• Political Capital:

  • Refers to the network of relationships and influence that enables individuals or groups to affect political processes and governance, critical for advocacy and policy change.

• Built Capital:

  • Refers to physical infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and utilities necessary for community functioning and development.

Habitus

• Describes the ingrained habits, dispositions, and attitudes shaped by individual social backgrounds, affecting how individuals perceive the world and respond to it.

• It complicates challenges to existing norms and structures, as people's actions are often influenced by their habitus, creating a cycle of reinforcement or change in societal behaviors.

Power Dynamics

• Defined as constructs created and maintained within cultural contexts, making them resistant to challenges.

• Understanding the balance of agency (individual action) and structure (systemic constraints) is essential for analyzing social phenomena and potential changes.

Agency vs Structure

• Agency: Refers to an individual's capacity to act independently, make choices, and influence their own life outcomes.

• Structure: Represents societal frameworks and norms that influence and shape individual behavior, often constraining or enabling agency.

Capability Theory (Sen)

• Developed by Amartya Sen, this theory focuses on what individuals are genuinely able to achieve in life, stressing the importance of freedom and choices available to individuals for achieving desirable outcomes.

• Martha Nussbaum expanded on capabilities, integrating feminist and disability perspectives, emphasizing the collective responsibility to ensure every individual has the ability to pursue a life they value.

Forms of Unfreedoms

• Identifies barriers to basic freedoms, such as inadequate access to healthcare, education, and shelter, which exacerbate individual and community challenges.

Sen’s Freedoms Categories

• Political Freedoms: The ability to participate in political processes and influence governance.

• Economic Freedoms: Access to economic resources to achieve desired living standards.

• Social Opportunities: Ensures that individuals have equal access to education and healthcare, vital for personal development.

• Transparency Guarantees: Trust in the accuracy of information, essential for informed decision-making.

• Protective Security: Implementing safety nets for vulnerable populations to safeguard against socioeconomic uncertainties.

Nussbaum’s Capabilities

• Lists essential capabilities necessary for well-being:

  • Life, bodily health, bodily integrity, senses/imagination/thought, emotions, practical reason, affiliation, respect for other species, play, and control over one’s environment.

Practical Examples

• Ali: A Syrian refugee struggling in Germany, facing challenges related to unrecognized qualifications and lack of social connections that hinder his integration.

• Jordan: A student encountering significant financial barriers to pursuing education, compounded by a lack of access to technology.

• Javier: A man with disabilities confronting limited economic opportunities due to prevailing societal limitations and prejudices.

• Naima: A rural woman facing health and education barriers that are intricately linked to adverse environmental conditions affecting her community.

Indices Relating to Capabilities

• Includes metrics used to assess quality of life, such as the Human Development Index and Gender-related Development Index, which measure various aspects of capabilities and well-being.

Reflection Questions

• Which perspectives resonate with you in relation to your own experiences or observations?

• Which theoretical frameworks would you consider applying in your community work, and why?