Topic Streams at Social Capital 2027
Thematic streams at Social Capital 2027 provide structure and focus to the conference, helping to organise the program around key areas of interest within the broad and interdisciplinary field of social capital. They allow for deeper exploration of specific themes, foster meaningful dialogue, and create opportunities for connection and collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers with shared interests.
While these streams help guide the content and ensure a rich and coherent experience for participants, we warmly welcome all submissions that contribute to advancing understanding or application of social capital, regardless of their alignment with a specific stream.
We are currently seeking sponsors for the thematic streams at Social Capital 2027. Stream sponsorship is a valuable opportunity to showcase your organisation’s commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in key areas of social capital. By sponsoring a stream, you’ll gain visibility among a global audience of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, and be recognised as a supporter of collaboration, innovation, and community-building. Each stream offers a platform for focused engagement, making this an ideal way to align your organisation with leading-edge conversations in your area of interest.
Social Capital as a Foundation for Health, Wellbeing, and Human Flourishing
Chair: Dr. Mara Sintejudeanu, Atlantic Technological University, Ireland
This stream critically explores the multifaceted role of social capital in influencing health outcomes, wellbeing, and quality of life. It addresses the role of trust, networks, and collective care on physical and mental health, healthcare access, and the broader determinants of human flourishing. Particular attention is given to how different forms of social capital (bonding, bridging and linking) affect access to healthcare, influence individual and collective health behaviours, and interact with the wider conditions that enable people and communities to thrive.
The stream also examines how the rapidly evolving technological landscape intersects with social capital and health outcomes. As healthcare systems increasingly adopt digital tools such as telehealth, wearables, remote monitoring, mobile health applications, and AI-driven decision support, questions arise about how social capital conditions the adoption, acceptance, and sustained use of these technologies. The stream gives particular attention to the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare in areas like diagnostics, triage, care allocation, and patient engagement and the ways in which social capital mediates whether AI is deployed and experienced as trustworthy, equitable, and relationally supportive rather than as a source of alienation or algorithmic disadvantage.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- Trust as a social determinant of health: How does interpersonal and institutional trust affect healthcare utilization, healthcare behaviours, and treatment adherence?
- Social networks and health resilience: How do social relationships influence physical and mental health, and community resilience and wellbeing?
- Collective care and community health practices: How can communities leverage collective care practices to promote health equity, foster mutual support, and contribute to conditions that enable human flourishing?
- Social capital and healthcare access: How do bonding, bridging, and linking forms of social capital influence access to healthcare and shape health outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations?
- Wellbeing, belonging, and quality of life: What is the relationship between social inclusion, civic participation, and perceptions of flourishing and life satisfaction across diverse populations?
- Social capital in policy and system design: How can public health systems measure and integrate social capital to enhance population wellbeing and create environments that support human flourishing?
- Healthcare technology adoption and social capital: How does social capital, in the form of interpersonal trust, peer influence, and community norms influence the adoption, acceptance, and sustained use of healthcare technologies such as telehealth and digital health tools, and how does the introduction of these technologies in turn strengthen or erode existing social ties and trust?
- Technology, digital inclusion, and connecting disadvantaged groups: Under what conditions can digital technologies bridge social and healthcare divides for marginalised and disadvantaged populations rather than reinforcing digital exclusion and widening health inequities?
- Artificial intelligence in healthcare and social capital: How does the integration of AI into healthcare (diagnostics, decision support, triage, and resource allocation) affect institutional trust, relational care, and equity, and what role does social capital play in enabling the ethical, inclusive, and trustworthy deployment of AI across diverse communities?
Governance, Civic Engagement, and Institutional Trust
Chair: Dr Chiara von Hollen-Pierobon, Professur für Public Policy and Social Change, OTH Regensburg
This stream examines the interplay between social capital and political life, focusing on civic engagement, democratic participation, and institutional legitimacy. It considers how social capital can both strengthen and challenge systems of governance and public accountability.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- How does social capital influence civic engagement and political participation in different political and cultural settings, and what factors moderate these effects?
- How do interpersonal and institutional trust, separately and in combination, shape citizens’ perceptions of governance legitimacy, institutional performance, and responsiveness?
- How do shifts in social capital relate to the emergence and persistence of polarizing or highly mobilized political movements, and what mechanisms underpin these relationships?
- Under what conditions can strengthening social capital help address challenges such as polarization, declining public trust, and the erosion of institutional legitimacy?
- What strategies enable governance institutions to foster and sustain social capital, and how do these strategies depend on pre-existing civic networks and community infrastructure?
- What role do civil society organizations, the private sector, and educational institutions play in cultivating social capital that supports resilient governance and inclusive societies?
- In what ways do bonding, bridging, and linking forms of social capital facilitate or hinder political inclusion and representation, particularly among underrepresented groups?
- How have digital technologies and social media influenced the development, transformation, or erosion of social capital, and what implications does this have for governance and civic participation?
Theory and Measurement of Social Capital
Chair: Tristan Claridge, Visiting Associate Professor, Heriot-Watt University
This stream explores foundational and emerging questions about the theory and measurement of social capital. It invites contributions that critically examine how social capital is conceptualised, how it is understood to function, and how it can be measured across diverse contexts. The stream encourages work that identifies trends, patterns, and divergences in the literature; clarifies underlying assumptions and logical constructs; and interrogates uncertainties and limitations in both theory and practice. Submissions may address theoretical coherence, conceptual innovation, functional mechanisms, links to outcomes, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of dominant measurement approaches. Particular attention is invited to the influence of cultural, political, and contextual factors on how social capital is defined, measured, and interpreted — and how theory and measurement can be better aligned to support robust research, policy relevance, and conceptual clarity across disciplines.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- What trends, patterns, and divergences can be observed in how social capital is conceptualised and theorised across disciplines and contexts? What logics and assumptions underlie these variations?
- What are the key uncertainties and unresolved questions about what social capital is, how it functions, and what it does? How do these affect its use in research, practice, and policy?
- How does social capital relate to outcomes — such as health, education, economic performance, or democratic participation — and what mechanisms are proposed or assumed to underlie these relationships?
- How can social capital be intentionally built, maintained, or leveraged, and what conceptual or theoretical frameworks guide such efforts?
- What are the strengths and limitations of dominant approaches to measuring social capital — including proxies, self-report surveys, network metrics, and qualitative methods — and how do these influence interpretation and comparability?
- How do cultural, political, and contextual factors shape the meaning, relevance, and measurability of social capital, and what implications does this have for international and cross-cultural research?
- How can theoretical models and measurement practices be better aligned to advance conceptual clarity, methodological rigour, and coherence across disciplinary and applied fields?
Community Resilience, Preparedness, and Disaster Recovery
Chair: Dr Jeff Donaldson, Adjunct Professor, Royal Roads University
This stream explores how communities leverage social capital to prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. This theme explores the role of social capital in navigating disruption, building resilience, and facilitating long-term recovery.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- Social Capital as a Catalyst for Community Resilience and Recovery
Explore how community bonds can transform disaster recovery. Discover how trust, networks, and social support accelerate rebuilding and foster mental health resilience. Present groundbreaking research and case studies showcasing how social capital drives long-term recovery, from restoring infrastructure to healing trauma. Share insights on how communities leverage relationships to overcome adversity or present innovative frameworks for psychosocial recovery. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to strengthen community resilience, learning from global examples of social capital in action. Whether you’re a researcher, practitioner, or policymaker, your voice is crucial to shaping stronger, more connected communities. - Leveraging Social Networks for Disaster Preparedness and Response
Can social networks help us recover from disasters? Explore how formal and informal networks—neighbourhood groups, NGOs, and cross-community collaborations—improve preparedness and crisis response. This theme invites proposals that explore how bonding and bridging social capital improve communication, resource sharing, and coordinated action. Share your research on effective network-building or present real-world examples of communities uniting for rapid response. Attendees will gain insights into strengthening local and regional networks, inspired by innovative disaster management practices. Community leaders, academics, and emergency planners, your perspectives can influence crisis preparedness and response. - Social Capital in Addressing Disaster Inequities and Climate Adaptation
Why do certain communities suffer more during disasters? How can social capital reduce these disparities? This theme explores social capital’s role in mitigating inequalities for marginalized groups and fostering adaptive capacity against climate disasters like floods and wildfires. We invite compelling proposals for empowering low-income, minority, or displaced populations and innovative climate resilience approaches. Share your research or practical solutions for equitable outcomes through community networks. This theme offers insights into inclusive disaster policies and adaptive strategies for vulnerable regions, connecting attendees with global leaders in equity and resilience. Contributions from researchers, advocates, and practitioners can drive positive change. - Digital and Cultural Dimensions of Social Capital in Disaster Management
This theme explores how digital platforms and cultural traditions shape disaster resilience. It examines how online communities, social media, and cultural norms amplify social capital during crises, including crowdfunding and culturally informed preparedness. We invite proposals that outline how digital tools can enhance resilience, and insights into how cultural values influence disaster response globally. Attendees will gain access to innovative digital strategies and cross-cultural perspectives, facilitating connections with experts in technology and anthropology. Your contributions are valuable, regardless of your field. - Public-Private Partnerships for Social Capital and Disaster Risk Reduction
Can partnerships between governments, businesses, and communities enhance disaster resilience? This theme explores how public-private collaborations build social capital to reduce disaster risks through innovative financing, infrastructure, and policy. We welcome proposals showcasing successful partnerships or novel frameworks that strengthen community networks for risk reduction. Share your research or practical models demonstrating how cross-sector collaboration drives resilience in various domains, such as urban planning and emergency funding. Gain insights into scalable solutions and connect with leaders in policy, business, and community development. Your expertise is crucial in shaping the future of disaster risk reduction.
Environment, Sustainability, and Climate Change
Chair: Dr Salvatore Ruggiero, Dr Elena Poli, and Dr Maria Bellou, LUT University, Finland
Distinguished Speaker: Jules Pretty, Emeritus Professor of Environment and Society, University of Essex – view details
This stream explores critical questions on the link between social capital and sustainability transformations in the context of complex interconnected challenges such as climate change and loss of ecosystem integrity. It invites contributions that examine how social capital could help embed and reshape alternative ways of thinking and acting across contexts, the influence on socio-environmental outcomes and what this may mean in practice. Particularly welcome are critical perspectives, work exploring implications for different actors (e.g. private sector and community-based actors) and the influence of different institutional arrangements.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- How can the concept of social capital inform and support sustainability transformations?
- What institutional arrangements influence the link between social capital and sustainability transformations?
- How can social capital support socio-environmental outcomes for different actors and what are the implications in terms of social justice?
- How can social capital help improve natural capital (and/ or vice versa), and what does this mean for policy and practice?
- How can a social capital approach be applied in practice to support environmental sustainability initiatives with multiple social and environmental outcomes?
- What are the strengths and limitations of the social capital concept for understanding how to guide sustainability transformations?
- What are the key uncertainties and unresolved questions about social capital for sustainability transformations?
Economics
Chair: Jacob Spanke, International Social Capital Association
This stream explores the intersections between social capital and economic outcomes at individual, organisational, and societal levels. It welcomes research and debate on how social capital influences productivity, market efficiency, innovation, and economic development, as well as how economic structures and policies shape the formation and distribution of social capital. Contributions may draw on empirical evidence, theoretical models, or applied case studies to examine topics such as trust in markets, transaction costs, collective action, labour market dynamics, and the economic value of networks. The stream aims to foster dialogue between economists, sociologists, policymakers, and practitioners on integrating social capital into economic analysis and decision-making.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
Further details will be added soon.
Entrepreneurship
Chair: Professor Laura Galloway, Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University
This stream examines social capital and social networks in entrepreneurship, either in-firm or in start-ups. Empirical, practice-based, and theoretical perspectives are welcome, including presentations that explore social capital and/or networks as they are operationalised in business and social enterprises, and presentations that engage with social capital theories or social network theory as a lens through which to engage with and develop knowledge about entrepreneurship.
Areas of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Issues associated with access to or use of social capital and/or networks in entrepreneurship
- Social capital and/or networks in international and marginalized entrepreneurship contexts
- The exchange and management of social capital for entrepreneurship
- The role of social capital and social networks in fostering entrepreneurial activity, innovation, and business growth
- How networks, trust, and shared norms shape the creation and scaling of enterprises, from start-ups to established ventures
- How social capital influences access to resources, markets, and knowledge, as well as how it interacts with other forms of capital in entrepreneurial ecosystems
- How social capital or networks can support inclusive, sustainable, and resilient forms of entrepreneurship
Paths, Barriers, and Bridges: Social Capital and Mobility
Chair: Dr Shereen Nassar
This stream explores how social capital shapes the opportunities and constraints that influence social and economic mobility. It examines the networks, relationships, and trust that can act as bridges to new opportunities or, conversely, reinforce barriers and exclusion. Contributions are invited that investigate how social capital operates across different contexts—whether enabling upward mobility, perpetuating inequalities, or producing mixed outcomes—through empirical research, theoretical development, or applied case studies. The stream encourages dialogue between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers on strategies to build inclusive pathways and dismantle structural obstacles to mobility.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- How does social capital enable economic, educational, and intergenerational mobility in diverse contexts?
– Exploring the mechanisms through which relational resources translate into upward movement and opportunity. - What forms of social capital are most critical for individuals navigating cultural, linguistic, or geographic transitions?
– Addressing migration, displacement, and identity negotiation as mobility experiences. - In what ways do digital technologies and platforms mediate the formation, activation, or transformation of social capital for mobility?
– Examining how digital tools can both bridge and fragment social connections. - How do family, community, and institutional relationships intersect to support or inhibit social and economic mobility?
– Considering multi-level dynamics from intimate ties to formal systems. - When does social capital reproduce inequality rather than open opportunity?
– Investigating closure, exclusivity, and structural barriers embedded in networks. - What strategies or interventions can cultivate bridging and linking social capital among marginalised or displaced populations?
– Focusing on inclusion, empowerment, and resilience in constrained environments. - How can the impact of social capital on mobility be effectively measured across temporal, digital, and cultural contexts?
– Encouraging methodological innovation and comparative research design.
Social Capital and Human-AI Interaction (Social Capital in the Age of AI)
Chair: Dr Anup Shrestha, University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping how people communicate, access information, build relationships, participate in communities, and engage with institutions. Unlike previous generations of digital technologies, AI systems are no longer passive tools that merely support human interaction. Generative AI, conversational agents, decision-support systems, and autonomous technologies increasingly participate in social processes by providing advice, emotional support, knowledge, recommendations, and personalised interactions.
These developments raise important questions for social capital research. How do human-AI interactions influence trust, reciprocity, cooperation, and social connectedness? Can AI strengthen bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, or does it risk displacing the human relationships upon which social capital depends? What roles do explainability, transparency, accountability, governance, and ethical design play in ensuring AI contributes positively to individual and societal wellbeing?
This stream invites research that examines the evolving relationship between social capital and human-AI interaction across individuals, communities, organisations, and societies. We welcome theoretical, empirical, methodological, policy, and design-oriented contributions that explore how AI influences trust, social relationships, institutional engagement, community resilience, and the future development of social capital in an increasingly AI-enabled world. The stream particularly welcomes work on human-centred AI, Explainable AI (XAI), Responsible AI, AI ethics, AI governance, digital inclusion, trust calibration, AI-mediated social capital, and the societal implications of emerging human-AI relationships.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- How do human-AI interactions shape trust, trustworthiness, reciprocity, and cooperation within individuals, communities, organisations, and institutions?
- What roles do Explainable AI (XAI), transparency, interpretability, and accountability play in building appropriate trust and supporting the development of social capital in AI-enabled environments?
- How can Responsible AI, AI Ethics, and AI Governance frameworks promote social inclusion, community resilience, social cohesion, and equitable access to social resources while mitigating risks such as exclusion, manipulation, misinformation, and algorithmic bias?
- In what ways are AI systems mediating, augmenting, or substituting traditional forms of social capital, including bonding, bridging, and linking social capital? Under what conditions do these outcomes strengthen or weaken human relationships and social connectedness?
- How do AI-enabled platforms, conversational agents, virtual companions, and intelligent decision-support systems influence social behaviour, wellbeing, civic participation, institutional trust, and community engagement?
- What innovative methods, measures, and analytical approaches can be used to assess, model, develop, and govern social capital in societies increasingly shaped by human-AI interaction?
Education, Learning, and Knowledge Systems
Chair: Dr Sarah McDonald, University of South Australia
This stream examines the formation, transmission, and activation of social capital through formal and informal learning, peer relationships, and school-community networks.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- What role does social capital play in education systems and what are the moderating factors?
- How do the policies and practices of education, learning and knowledge systems facilitate the formation of various forms of social capital?
- How does access or lack of access to social capital impact those engaging with various education, learning and knowledge systems?
- What are the circumstances that necessitate the formation, transmission and activation of social capital? Is it always necessary to operationalise social capital?
- What does cross comparative analyses of education systems tell us about how social capital is formed, transmitted and activated?
Agriculture, Rural, and Community Development
Chair: Dr Marcelo Siles, Michigan State University
This stream examines the important role that social capital plays in agricultural production systems and its connections to rural livelihoods and community development. It explores how trust, a key component of social capital, is created and developed among farmers and other community members, fostering cooperation, innovation, and stronger ties to local institutions. In addition, the stream assesses how these factors, taken together, can strengthen rural resilience, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and contribute to long-term rural development.
Subthemes / Focal Questions:
- How does social capital facilitate agricultural and agribusiness transactions, including land, input, and equipment exchanges, among small and large farmers?
- What role do social capital and its underlying motives play in facilitating small farmers’ access to the formal financial system and credit?
- How does social capital among farmers, as well as between farmers and input and equipment providers, facilitate the adoption of new agricultural technologies?
- What role does social capital play in enabling farmers and communities to adopt and adapt to emerging agricultural technologies?
- In what ways can social capital promote rural development, strengthen community participation in development projects, and support collective initiatives?
- What role does social capital play in helping communities and farmers respond to natural disasters associated with climate change? How can social capital support adaptation to changing weather conditions and help mitigate their impacts?