Rethinking Social Capital

«‘Carl Bankston has produced an important book that, I predict, will be read with profit by social scientists for many years to come. His theoretical analysis of “social capital” is original, comprehensive, rigorous and provocative. His critical mastery of the relevant literature is unrivalled. Rethinking Social Capital is a major achievement.’ »

«‘Rethinking Social Capital demystifies the idea of social capital and clarifies the various ways in which the term is used. Bankston thoughtfully and critically brings the disparate theoretical elements into a coherent model and applies it to investigating how social categories serve as historical sources of social networks and how different forms of networks within categories sustain social stratification. The book is beautifully written, and the narrative is captivating and engaging, offering a nuanced approach to understanding the roots of socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic inequality, as well as the contributions and limits of social capital theory.’»