Social Capital: Analyzing the Fall and the Chance of Rebuilding

This article explores the concept of social capital, drawing on Robert D. Putnam's groundbreaking work Bowling Alone. The author diagnoses the progressive erosion of interpersonal bonds, norms of reciprocity, and trust in Western societies since the second half of the 20th century. He analyzes the negative consequences of this phenomenon for democracy, economic efficiency, education, public safety, and social health, pointing to the paralysis of collective action and the deterioration of information quality. The text also addresses the complex nature of social capital, emphasizing its ambivalence and potential to generate pathologies such as exclusion and clientelism. Nevertheless, the article explores opportunities to rebuild this key resource for community health.