Australian Institute of Family Studies - Publications


What's New line About AIFS line Search
Media line Research line Information line Databases line Publications line Lists line Conferences line Seminars line Courses line Links

Towards a theorised understanding of family life and social capital
by Ian Winter
Working paper no.21, Australian Institute of Family Studies, April 2000, 18p, ISBN 0 642 39472 5, ISSN 1440-4761

Families are typically thought of as the wellspring of civil society and an important source of social capital. The aim of this Working Paper is to bring the relationship between families and social capital under some scrutiny. The paper defines the concept of social capital and reviews the literature on social capital within and beyond family networks. Drawing this information together reveals considerable gaps in our knowledge of what it is about family life that generates social capital and, in turn, strengthens civil society. To redress this, the paper draws upon 'risk society' theory to construct family life as a theoretical subject and to provide a framework for understanding why family-based networks and norms - and thus family-based social capital - are undergoing change.

Contact the Institute for a copy of the paper (a postage and handling charge applies - refer to Ordering details). The paper can also be viewed in HTML format, or downloaded in PDF (size=120 K) * format.




* You will need an Acrobat Reader which is free from the Adobe Systems Web site: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html

return arrow    Publications Menu

line
AIFS Home
AIFS
Home		 Queries to Webmaster | Copyright, privacy, disclaimer | Site map

Australian Institute of Family Studies, Level 20, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne Vic 3000, Australia. Tel: (03) 9214 7888. Fax: (03) 9214 7839. URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/