Important works either on the side Economics or on the side of Sociology coincide in concluding that societies with smaller Social Capital tend to grow less, tolerate higher rates of inequality and poverty and to display lower levels of Social Cohesion. The theory thus points clearly that higher levels of Social Capital lead to an increase in Social Cohesion.
Portugal is, according to the generality of international comparative studies, a country with low Social Capital and low Social Cohesion.
Economic crisis is triggering a surge in associativism and political and civic participation. Large demonstrations were organized gathering people from almost all walks of life, new political and civic associations formed, dialog platforms are under way assembling groups that hardly communicated previously. Social Capital is on the rise.
This paper discusses the effects of a rise in Social Capital in Social Cohesion arguing that such effect is dependent on the social and economic conditions were it is produced. During economic expansion a rise in Social Capital leads to an increase of Social Cohesion as the theory predicts, however an increase in Social Capital, in an environment of acute economic crisis, will lead to a diminished Social Cohesion and an increase of the social conflict.
