Elevinflytande
ur ett skolledarperspektiv
The purpose of this research is to examine some historical aspects of Robert Putnam?s thesisabout voluntary associations and social capital. According to a micro perspective theory ofsocial capital the trust and reciprocity required and created by associations is important toexplain the disparity between institutional performance and socioeconomic development ofsocieties. The social patterns governing this therefore set a precedent for the future. Using themutual sickness benefit societies in Sweden as variable for voluntary associations around1884, the essay discusses the possible links between social capital, associations and long termeconomic development. The history and structure of the mutual benefit societies is analysed,and the regional differences in social capital and economic development 1958-1980 arecompared to the spread and extension of these benefit societies in 1884. The concludingchapter notes many difficulties in establishing empirical evidence of the discussed theories,pushes the role of some existing alternative explanations and makes a few suggestions onfurther historical research of the mutual benefit societies in the field of social capital.