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Title

E-social capital: building community through electronic networks

Author(s)

Hopkins, Liza;  Thomas, Julian

Abstract

Despite the extensive rhetoric of governments, business and the not for profit sector regarding “community”, “community development” and “community well being”, there is little consensus about what “community” really means, let alone how it might be examined and assessed. Talking about electronic communities or online communities merely adds another layer of complexity to the issue. This paper sets out to examine some of the elements which make up community and communities, and assess the potential for new electronic media to contribute to the health and well being of social groups. We draw on the concept of social capital as a way of thinking about the complex interaction of elements which contribute to the functioning of communities, and explore some implications for the communities which occupy cyberspace. [Introduction]

Publication type

Conference paper

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Institute for Social Research

Source

[Proceedings] 5th Community Networking Conference 'Electronic Networks - Building Communities', 3-5 July 2002, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, Melbourne, Australia

Publication year

2002

Publisher

Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University

ISBN

0958105804

Publisher URL

http://www.ccnr.net/2002/index.htm

Copyright

Copyright © 2002 (Please consult authors). Paper reproduced here with the permission of the conference organisers.

Full text

Peer reviewed