This paper provides a history of the development of the word "ghetto" and shows how emphasizing certain dimensions of the word can simplify the Ghetto concept. This paper also discusses the issue of eliminating race in policy-oriented research.
The 'barrio' is discussed as an emergent social structure. Population pressures have affected the sense of 'barrio' identification and promoted 'community spirit' in Santa Maria, a Zapotec town in Oaxaca, Mexico. Social network analysis reveals networks based on compadrazgo relations and friendship. Ethnic homogeneity and relative absence of class conflict have also diminished 'barrio' solidarity.
Factors that contribute to disparate levels of economic development in Papua New Guinea’s 19 provinces are examined. Ethnic fragmentation is found to have the most significant correlation with low levels of development. A distinction between intra-group “bonding” social capital and inter-group “bridging” social capital is made.
Cooperative efforts enable more than 40 different nationalities to coexist peacefully in a region of China. Viewing ethnic diversity and interethnic exchanges as strength enables this region made up of more than 40 groups to cooperatively achieve economic growth, shared information, and improved educational systems.
This paper examines the development and operation of social capital as it differs among rural and urban communities. Using observations, the author augments his study with a list of researchable questions on social capital and some ideas for empirically analyzing these issues.
Kiroba identity has remained stable in a transitional atmosphere owing to traditional linkages which were reinforced through oral history and generated social capital. Among the Kiroba people of Tanzania, the elders' chief role and objective is to pass on moral tribe values and reaffirm their social unity by relating the tribe's history to younger generations. The chief organizing factor is patrilineal kinship. Also, social organization occurs through political identification, religious affiliation etc. These serve to reinforce tradition and generate social capital.
The fruits of 'free market' economics are considered. Pennar incorporates the views of George Soros and Robert Putnam in her critique of free market economics. Laissez-faire policies may have fostered growth rates but, distributional concerns have been ignored. The next step is a refocusing on community and civil society.
In this article, Bayat considers social activism and its relationship to social development in the Middle East. He examines the nature of grass-roots activism and the various strategies used by the region's urban grass-roots to defend their rights and improve their lives today. In doing so he looks at six different types of activism expressed in urban mass protests: trade unionism, community activism, social Islamism, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and quiet encroachment.
Development process in Papua New Guinea does not affect all women equally because of pre contact gender and age stratification. The pre-contact Ganaga society has very clearly defined strata for women, based on their age and responsibilities. Usually older menopausal women are considered to be full adult status. This gives them extra opportunities and responsibilities as also access to extra domestic roles. Hence, development process does not touch all women in the Ganaga and should be modified into short term economic return projects to be more effective. Another way would be to introduce rotating credit and/or labor association within women.
