Bourdieu, Social Capital and Online Interaction

Abstract

While there has been much discussion in recent decades on the nature of social capital and its importance in online interactions, it is my contention that these discussions have been dominated by the American Communitarian tradition. In this article, I begin with an overview of American Communitarianism to identify the key elements therein that are found in contemporary theories of social capital. Following this, I expose some of the weaknesses of this tradition and apply Bourdieu's distinctive theoretical framework to online interactions to demonstrate the fecundity of Bourdieu's sociological perspective when applied to contemporary online interactions. To do this, I examine interactions online that involve 'internet memes', as digital inhabitants themselves colloquially define them. It is my contention that an agonistic model, rather than a communitarian one, best describes the online interactions of digital inhabitants.

Tourism communities and social ties: the role of online and offline tourist social networks in building social capital and sustainable practice

“…The loss of social capital found in groups has, for some, enabled liberation from local obligations and people have more freedom to organise their relationships (Portes, 1998) and build other forms of community (Ohnmacht, 2009). Bourdieu's individualist approach to social capital (Carrasco & Cid-Aguayo, 2012, p. 1067, while consistent with the development of individualised networks that are no longer contained by a community of place (Wellman, 2001;Wellman & Wortely,1990), suggests a need for both network capital (Urry, 2007) to access social capital, and also capabilities to understand the protocols to integrate and benefit from the resources available (Julien, 2015).…”

“…One is based on an integrative view of social capital as a collective public good (Coleman, 1988). The second is based on Bourdieu's interpretation which views social capital in more exclusionary terms as a means to reinforce relationships to conserve access to resources (Julien, 2015). Based on the first perspective, social capital arises from fulfilling mutual obligations and is built on trust, information exchange and norms of reciprocation (Coleman, 1988, p. S119).…”

“…Strong-tie relationships are associated with emotional support and ties that are most accessible tend to provide most physical support (Wellman & Wortely, 1990), for instance, through access to vehicles (Lovejoy & Handy, 2011). The network capital to access resources includes a variety of technologies (for example, cars, mobile phones, Internet access) and Julien (2015) argues some people possess digital social capital. Digital social capital is increasingly drawn on during the tourism experience and can inform tourism decisions with scope for more À or less À sustainable outcomes.…”

“…We explore how mobile connectivity might enhance forms of community in a tourism setting through maintaining social ties both near and at a distance, and bridging to individuals outside our social sphere, an area that has received little attention in research (Wilken, 2010). In our analysis we draw on perspectives of social capital that reflect both the view of this as a public good and Bourdieu's perspective that social capital can be exclusionary (Julien, 2015).…”

“…social capital as a public good), but this may be limited through observation of the collective inactivity of others. Further, based on the perspective of social capital as conserving access to resources (Julien, 2015), tourism spaces may reinforce closed groups and inhibit opportunities for social support.…”