SOCIAL CAPITAL THEORY AS AN INTEGRATING THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK IN TECHNOLOGICAL DISASTER RESEARCH

Abstract

Abstract Conceptual and empirical research on technological disasters has produced a number of seminal contributions including concepts of recreancy, collective trauma, lifestyle and lifescape change, corrosive community, secondary trauma, and the ecological-symbolic perspective. This article presents social capital theory as a comprehensive framework that incorporates and integrates these key conceptual elements and theories. After presenting fundamental elements of social capital theory, we demonstrate how key concepts in technological disaster research relate to social capital. We conclude that while social capital theory has merit and potential for improving our understanding of all disaster events, it is particularly useful in comprehending the multifarious impacts of technological disasters. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2004 meeting of the Mid-South Sociological Association. Support for this research was provided by The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MIS-605270), the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University, and the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Research (NSF #0082405). We also acknowledge the helpful comments of Steve Kroll-Smith, Russell Dynes, and the three anonymous reviewers of Sociological Spectrum. Notes 1See Arata et al. Citation2000; Baum and Fleming Citation1993; Baum et al. Citation1983; Couch and Kroll-Smith Citation1991; Cuthbertson and Nigg Citation1987; Drabek Citation1986; Edelstein [1988] Citation2004 Citation2000; Erikson Citation1976 Citation1994; Fowlkes and Miller Citation1987; Freudenburg and Jones Citation1991; Freudenburg and Pastor Citation1992; Gill and Picou Citation1991 Citation1998, 2001; Gleser et al. Citation1981; Grace et al. Citation1993; Green Citation1991; Kroll-Smith and Couch Citation1990 Citation1993b; Levine Citation1982; Picou and Gill Citation1997 Citation2000; Picou et al. Citation1992 Citation1997; Smith and North Citation1993; Vyner Citation1988. 2Articulations of social capital since the 1950s mirror Hanifan's (Citation1916) description; notably, however, these were independently developed without knowledge of his work (Putnam Citation2000). 3E.g., Baum and Fleming Citation1993; Gerrity and Flynn Citation1997; Gill and Picou Citation1991 Citation1998; Gleser et al. Citation1981; Grace et al. Citation1993; Green and Lindy Citation1994; Green et al. Citation1990a Citation1990b; Picou and Gill Citation1997; Picou et al. Citation1992; Smith et al. Citation1986; Smith and North Citation1993. 4Generally, discussion of lifescape change in technological disaster literature tends to be couched in negative terms; however, there may be some types of beneficial lifescape change—such as becoming more environmentally aware. 5Conditions resources include personal relationships and employment. 6See Ritchie Citation2004 for more detailed information on these issues. 7Specifically, Campbell (Citation2000) maintains there is a need to study existing quantitative data in conjunction with what she calls “micro-qualitative ‘bottom up’ studies of the forms social capital takes in particular local communities” (p. 195).