The Role of Social Capital in Empowering Individuals for Social Development: A Field Study in Erbil

A Field Study in Erbil

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to understand the role of social capital in empowering individuals for social development. In this study, the descriptive method was employed. Erbil city is a research community and stratified random sampling was used to collect a sample of 384 individuals. A questionnaire consisting of three main sections was used to gather data from the study sample: 1) general information (gender, age, and economic status), 2) a social capital measure consisting of three dimensions (structural, communication, and cognitive), and 3) a measure of individual empowerment for social development, which consists of four dimensions (self-efficacy, social participation, internalization of values, and institutionalization). The most important results of the study were: Social capital was high in the structural and communication dimensions, but the cognitive dimension was low, indicating lack of social homogeneity. Individual empowerment is high across all four dimensions (self-efficacy, participation, internalization of social development values, and institutionalization). Regarding demographic variables, economic status had a prominent impact, in a way individuals with good economic standing exhibiting the highest levels of social capital and empowerment. Furthermore, regarding the effect of the variables on each other, social capital had a positive and strong impact on individual empowerment. Based on the results of the study, it is suggested that governments and organizations should plan to strengthen social capital, particularly in the cognitive dimension, which is carried out through activities such as festivals and conferences. Supporting low-income people via financial assistance and job opportunities. Also, developing integrated programs for all dimensions of social capital (structural, communication, and cognitive).