Social Cohesion, Trust and Participation: Social Capital, Social Policy and Social Cohesion in the European Union and Candidate Countries (SCSPN)

This network was formed in order to examine the importance of social capital for social policy. The aim was to demonstrate the ways in which informal and formal social networks influence social policy making and implementation in seven member states and the two candidate countries. In its first year the Network focused on various policy issues such as social capital and early childhood, pre-school education and the role of social capital in reducing old age dependency. The second year, ending in December 2007, resulted in a series of reports and policy briefs. The Network reported to the EU’s Directorate-General for Employment and Social Affairs and the studies fed into their annual Social Situation Report.

The general task of the network on Social Capital and Social Cohesion is to monitor and report on trends and developments in social capital, defined as the capacity for collaborative collective action in a community and society and understood as a constituent in social cohesion, through appropriate proxies such as measures of trust in society and its institutions, indicators of participation in formal and informal networks and, social norms promoting collective action. The network partners furthermore covers social capital and social governance as an element in economic and social performance and as a potential facilitator of policy implementation.

The Center for Policy Studies was involved in the following work packages of the project:

• Work package 1: General Monitoring Report
• Work package 2: Contribution to the Social Situation Report
• Work package 3: Special Contributions – Policy Briefs and Research Notes