Social capital in involuntary displacement and resettlement

Social capital is often seen as a substitute for lack of other types of capital among poor people. Because of the recognized applicability of the social capital concept and its correlation with the different dimensions of poverty, it has been used in evaluating the adaptation and integration of involuntarily displaced individuals into their new environment. This paper presents insights based on a review of the findings of studies that looked into the role of social capital in conflict- and development-induced displacement contexts. Although both types of displacements are involuntary or forced in nature, they differ in terms of the role of social capital regarding its main sources, the formation pattern and its determinants. Social capital studies in forced resettlement appear to be relatively small in number and are heavily concentrated on first world countries and conflict- and development-induced displacements. The conduct of similar studies in developing countries and in a disaster-induced resettlement context, the third type of involuntary displacement, should generate new and relevant findings regarding the role of social capital in resettlement communities.