UPSC Mains 2023 GS4 Q13 — Social Capital Governance
Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance? (Answer in 150 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- ExplainHow does it enhance
- Scope keywords
- social capitalgood governance
- Implicit sub-parts
- Define social capital through its core components: networks, norms, and trust.
- Explain the causal mechanism linking community cooperation to administrative efficiency.
- Illustrate the role of social capital in reducing the 'transaction costs' of governance.
- Provide brief real-world examples where social capital substituted or complemented state machinery.
- Common pitfalls
- Defining social capital only as 'charity' or 'social work' rather than a functional resource of networks and trust.
- Ignoring the 'Dark Side' of social capital, such as nepotism or exclusionary groups (cliques), which can actually hinder good governance.
- Failing to link social capital specifically to governance pillars like transparency, accountability, and responsiveness.
- Writing a sociological essay without an Ethics/GS4 lens on integrity and public service delivery.
- Dimensions required
- Sociological (Bonding and Bridging capital)Political (Participatory democracy and civic engagement)Administrative (Lowering monitoring costs and improving service delivery)Ethical (Trust as the 'lubricant' of a functioning society)
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 40 words to a precise definition of social capital including Putnam or Coleman's framework. Use the remaining 110 words to map social capital to specific governance outcomes like collective action, reduced corruption through social audits, and improved policy compliance through community trust.
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