Social capital refers to social networks. The quality of those networks has a major effect on our health and our income. Moreover, this appears to apply not only to the people within the network, but often also to outsiders. Criminologists have shown that a strong neighborhood network can deter crime. Such a neighborhood is characterized by communal activities such as barbecues and parties. Even if you never attend such a party, you still benefit from the network.
Social capital
Not all social networks have the same effect: if you have many friends, your health is good, while action groups strengthen democracy. Yet a common thread can be drawn from much research, because: where social capital is high
- children grow up healthier and safer,
- they are raised better
- people live longer and happier,
- democracy and economy function better.
People
Diversity in a neighborhood is an important asset. People of different ages, habits and interests broaden your view, provided you are open to it. Because it does require some effort, patience and tolerance. Not everyone can always afford that. As a result, the more varied the neighborhood, the lower the internal cohesion and satisfaction and the greater the turnover. Greater diversity also appears to be associated with less social trust:
- shrill children’s voices that echo off the blocks of houses during the day,
- children playing ball under the bedrooms of older people.
- stomping from upstairs neighbors and late-night student parties,
- house enthusiasts who turn on their sound system on a quiet Sunday afternoon,
Neighbourhood
On a student campus you have no problem understanding fellow students who have the same rhythm of life, but in a residential area between families with small children who wake you up from sleep in the morning, that understanding is hard to find. Conversely, as an older person you have to put up with the noise in a lively neighborhood or choose a quiet neighborhood.
To trust
In diverse communities, people are more likely to go into their shells. Mutual trust is low. And although people have even less confidence in their own influence, they appear to be inclined to participate in demonstrations and protests! On the other hand, when dealing with problems such as nuisance from drug runners, noise pollution, litter, dog feces and speeding mopeds, they are less inclined to think that cooperation against such problems will do anything. Furthermore, people in colorful neighborhoods do less volunteer work and are less happy, even more dissatisfied with their quality of life! It may seem like a lively neighborhood, but the residents actually live next to each other.
Identity
When the social distance from your neighbors is small(er), you find it easier to trust others and work together. There is a sense of a common identity, closeness, and shared experiences (a good example are the Begijnenhofjes). With greater social distance, we see and treat the other person as someone from a different category. Social distance depends on social identity, our sense of who we are. But identity is socially determined and can change! Suppose you find (or lose) a job, you get into a relationship or have children, you emigrate, you stop smoking, you have a heart attack, then your identity changes! Social distance is therefore not a rigid fact, but it can certainly be influenced.
Tolerance
How do you achieve a sense of shared citizenship in a diverse neighborhood? Tolerance for differences is a first step. To create and strengthen a sense of a shared identity, there must be opportunities in which you can get to know each other:
- public spaces that you use together,
- public meetings where you can express concerns and problems to find a solution together,
- a neighborhood party where you meet each other.
It is important to invest in such places and activities because they can help us feel more comfortable in our immediate living environment.
Agreements
However, the search for similarities and common interests is just as important! Compatriots, city residents, neighbors, street residents, neighbors: what do we benefit from? What bothers us? What would we like to see changed, what are we missing? What are we proud of?
It is not easy to feel more comfortable in a diverse neighborhood. Of course we can hide behind metal shutters and with blinders on and earplugs in, shut out our environment. We can easily turn deaf and blind to the problems and needs of the neighborhood; as long as our own sidewalk is clean. Change and improvement certainly do not happen overnight. But it will go faster if we make a collective effort, and in the end it will be more than worth the effort.
Diversity
To be clear, a number of elements of social capital and community involvement appear to be little influenced by diversity. In those cases, the binding elements are stronger: think of religious activities and demonstrations (for example by Greenpeace or Senseless Violence). However, members of highly diverse communities are more likely to withdraw from collective life. If you want to build a close-knit community there, you will have to attract people to get them moving for cohesion in the neighborhood. Considering the benefits, this is worth it for all parties.