Civic Networks and Community Resilience in Brazil, Canada, Chile, and Cuba

This article explores the relationship between civil society and community resilience in coastal communities in Brazil, Canada, Chile and Cuba. In understanding the role of social capital in community development, we do not feel sufficient attention has been paid to the subtle micro-dynamics of civi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of civil society 2011-12, Vol.7 (4), p.333-362
Main Authors: Barrett, Gene, Vanderplaat, Madine, Castellano Gonzalez, Maria Elena, Ferreira Irmao, Jose, Godoy Ampuero, Maria Cecilia, Miranda Vera, Clara Elisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brazil
Bridging ties
Canada
Chile
Civil society
Coastal areas
coastal communities
cohesion
Collective action
Community
community-based development
Cuba
factionalism
Latin America
Networks
Organization
resilience
Social capital
Social cohesion
social network analysis
State-society relations
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Summary:This article explores the relationship between civil society and community resilience in coastal communities in Brazil, Canada, Chile and Cuba. In understanding the role of social capital in community development, we do not feel sufficient attention has been paid to the subtle micro-dynamics of civil network structure. Using social network analysis, we explore the link between community cohesion and resilience. Attention is given to conflicting interests that characterize these communities and how they manifest themselves in civic participation and factional affiliations. We find that organizational diversity is a necessary condition for community vitality, but organizations can become captive to factional interests. The critical factors for resilience are associated with a benign side of factions (a plurality of inclusive ties) and the presence of keystone bridging agents. Each offers hidden mechanisms for neutralizing the effects of fragmentation by providing a cohesive capability which remains latent until crises call for collective action.
ISSN:1744-8689
1744-8697
DOI:10.1080/17448689.2011.626197