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Una perspectiva del capital social desde las ciencias sociales: capital social y accion colectiva (A
Social Science Perspective on Social Capital: Social Capital and Collective Action)
Author(s): Elinor Ostrom, T. K. Ahn, Cecilia Olivares
Source: Revista Mexicana de Sociología, Vol. 65, No. 1 (Jan. - Mar., 2003), pp. 155-233
Published by: UniversidadNacional Autónoma de México
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3541518
Accessed: 11/02/2009 10:33
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Una perspectiva del capital social desde
las ciencias sociales: capital social
y accion colectiva*
ELINOR OSTROM Y T. K. AHN**
Resumen: El concepto capitalsocialhace
desobre
que
variosfactores no son nuehincapie
en
vos, peroque no han sido tomados cuenta
durante el auge de la economianeocldsica
racional:confianzay
y las teoriasde elecci6n
normas de reciprocidad,
redesy formas de
participaci6ncivil, y reglasformalese informales o instituciones. contribucidn la
La
de
del
perspectiva capital social consisteen que
diversosintegraestosfactoresaparentemente
en el marcode la accidncolectiva.

Abstract: The concept of social capital
stressesseveralfactors that are not new but
have oftenbeenignoredduring the heydayof
neoclassicaleconomicsand rational choice
theories:
trust and norms of reciprocity,
networksand forms of civic engagement,and
bothformal and informal rules or institutions. The contribution the social capital
of
liesapproach in that it bringstheseseemingly
diverse
of
factorsinto theframework collective
action.

Palabrasclave:capital social, acci6n colectiva, desarrollo econ6mico, confianza, redes,
instituciones.
Keywords:social capital, collective action, economic development, trust, networks,
institutions.

INTRODUCCION
E
1N

LA MEDIDA QUE LOSCIENTiFICOS
EN
SOCIALES
siguen buscando

en elsiglo XXI las causas de la prosperidad econ6mica y el
orden democratico, el concepto de "capital social" atrae mas
mas la atencion. Se ha propuesto el capital social como la respuesta
y
a una amplia variedad de preguntas. Por ejemplo:
* eQue hizo surgir las diferentes estructuras industriales en las
economfas capitalistas? (Fukuyama, 1995).
* EPor que algunos gobiernos democraticos tienenexito y otros
fracasan? (Putnam et al., 1993).
*
Agradecemos al Study Commission on the Future of Civic Activities of the German
Bundestag, el permiso para la reproducci6n de este articulo.
**Dirigir correspondencia a los autores a Workshop in Political Theory and Policy
Analysis, Indiana University,513 North Park, Bloomington, IN 47408-3895, EE.UU. Tel.:
(812) 855 0441; fax: (812) 855 3150;...