Abstract

Taking its departure from current debates over social capital, this article presents new textual findings in a backward-revealing conceptual history. In particular, it analyzes the texts and contexts of Lyda J. Hanifan who was rediscovered by Robert Putnam as having (allegedly first) used the term; it offers discoveries of earlier uses of the term and concept—most notably by John Dewey—thereby introducing critical pragmatism as another tradition of social capital; and it recovers features of the critique of political economy in the nineteenth century—from Bellamy to Marshall to Sidgwick to Marx—that assessed “capital from the social point of view, ” especially cooperative associations. While it ends with Marx’s use of “social capital, ” Dewey is its central figure. The article concludes by returning to the present and offering work, sympathy, civic education, and a critical stance as emergent themes from this conceptual history that might enrich current debates.

Related readings

Fine, B. (2007). Eleven Hypotheses on the Conceptual History of Social Capital. A Response to James Farr. Political Theory 35 (1), 47-53.

Farr, J. (2007). In Search of Social Capital. A Reply to Ben Fine. Political Theory 35 (1), 54-61.