Family Capital: The Cornerstone of Social Capital

Abstract

This article mainly concentrates on social capital. It first addresses to different kinds of capital and then elaborates on the views expressed by the theorists of social capital. Having criticized the views expressing the negative side of social capital, the author refers to its values and Islamic views on the concept of social capital, then, he defines the concept of "family capital" as a set of accumulative social capital, reproduction and redistribution in the family. He also studies the constraints related to the evaluation of mutual relations between social capital and family life and the erosive effects of the modern family on family capital in the West (influenced by extensive change of family institution). Finally, the pathology of family capital in Iran is analyzed by indicating four important deficiencies (which mostly influenced by the developments of the modern era) and some warnings are issued against its diverging and threatening aspects.

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