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Neglect No resources?

Neglect No resources?. Community action Local resources. Partnership? Municipal resources. Dr Adriana M Soaita Centre for Housing Research University of St Andrews. On the nature of social capital under the post-communist transition: views from Romania. Dr Adriana M Soaita

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Neglect No resources?

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  1. Neglect No resources? Community action Local resources Partnership? Municipal resources Dr Adriana M Soaita Centre for Housing Research University of St Andrews

  2. On the nature of social capital under the post-communist transition: views from Romania Dr Adriana M Soaita Centre for Housing Research University of St Andrews

  3. On the nature of social capital under the post-communist transition: views from Romania What is the changing nature and forms of social capital in Romania?

  4. Social Capital ± (soc. networks; resources; shared norms) Individual forms Actual or potential resources, linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalised relationships of mutual acquaintances (Bourdieu) Collective forms Features of social organization, such as networks, norms and trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefits (Putnam)

  5. Social Capital ± (soc. networks; resources; shared norms) Positive consequences community care, public safety, information; civicness, law abidingness, better economic & institutional performance Negative consequences exclusion, excessive claims, restriction on individual freedom, downwards levelling norms; corruption, illegality, criminality

  6. Social Capital under the communism regime Negative/positive individual forms Negative collective forms • Horizontal bonds and trust within family and friends • Vertical ‘connections’ to resource gatekeepers • Scarce basic goods • Uncertainty and distrust for others • Forced, ritualistic participation in state organisations

  7. Social Capital under the post-communist transition

  8. The city of Pitesti

  9. Data • Residents in blocks & houses (250 quest., 48 interviews) • Municipal decision-makers (9 interviews) • Housing professionals (12 interviews) What is your opinion about the participative culture in Romania, such as people gathering together to solve their problems, express opinions collectively or just socialize? Can you give any examples?

  10. The status quo Low levels of engagement Expressing ‘voice’ to the LoGo

  11. The status quo Low levels of engagement Negative forms There is an ill will to use positions, money and nepotism only for perverse purposes: “Let’s help my nephew, poor thing, as he drove onto someone on a pedestrian crossing, at 100 miles a hour”! (male, 56)

  12. I.SC:Positive forms still alive but declining Continuity of traditional rural forms In mum’s village, it was a duty to keep the road clean. There were other rules that no one ever questioned (female, 50) Everyone knows what is claca! I come and help you now, you come and help me tomorrow! Still practiced but more rarely (male, 48) Other positive forms Rotational Credit Associations Wedding practices

  13. I.SC:persistentcommunist legacies Perverse forms Corresponding to the traffic of influence one could make, the “connections” one had, one got or not a flat. Oh, such a dirty traffic of influence existed around housing allocation! What an amoral swamp was the municipality! (male, 54)

  14. I.SC: The 1990s, spread of negative forms State capture & illegitimacy The same people remained in every important position. They kept their exclusive networks and traded among themselves (male, 59) ‘Informality’ & corruption Corruption was transmitted from top to mass society, making every public employee easy to bribe and any “entrepreneur” a tax escapist (male, 57)

  15. I.SC:‘Europeanization’ (2000s) Again networking? Again privilege? No, this is not the way forwards!(female, 47) Institutionalization I see a City Hall that works: every paper is recorded, whether a claim, suggestion or complaint, a good management of information since ’98-2000. I resolved my problems without any “gifts” (male, 36) Commodification Change of Rotational Credit Associations into Banks Change of ‘claca’ into informal market

  16. C.SC:‘Citizens’ involvement in urban affairs is a big zero!’ Freedom not to participate We were told: You just stay put and quiet and I give you what you need! But if I tell “meeting”, you go to meeting! If I tell “applaud”, you applaud! (male, 68) Distrust & constraints People feel reluctant to participate as they’ve been cheated and disappointed too many times. The political class is culpable for this. Then, of course, other factors play a role such as lack of time, lack of structures, and poverty (The Mayor)

  17. Rejection of collectivism in favour of individualism Final remarks: Built institutional transparency & accountability Enable transparent ‘home-based’ civic engagement (email/phone) Address technological/economic exclusion

  18. Rejection of collectivism in favour of individualism Thank you

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