UPSC Mains 2023 · GS IV · Q6(b) · 10 marks · 150 words

Explain the term social capital. How does it enhance good governance ?

हिन्दी में

सामाजिक पूँजी की व्याख्या कीजिए । यह सुशासन में वृद्धि कैसे करती है ?

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “What do you understand by social capital? Explain its relationship with good governance.”

Ganesh Kumar BaskarAIR 7 · CSE 2019 · 182 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Good governance refers to the application of social, economic and administrative powers of a nation for the public well being.

Social capital refers to the perception of trust or reputation that an individual or organisation enjoys in public mind that can be used to justify/legitimise their actions.

Body · points

Good governance refers to the application of social, economic and administrative powers of a nation for the public well being.

Social capital refers to the perception of trust or reputation that an individual or organisation enjoys in public mind that can be used to justify/legitimise their actions.

Good governance needs social capital

(1) Absence of social capital means an absence of social contract which leads to de-legitimization of government. Eg. During Arab Spring, the govt. of Egypt under Hosni Mubarak lost its social capital so forced to abdicate.

(2) Social capital enhances trust of an institution in public. Eg. Judiciary has higher social capital than politicians so judicial verdicts are trusted by public more than the political actions.

Social capital needs good governance

(1) Lack of good governance leads to loss of trust which depletes trust. Eg. Bad governance by civil service leads to fall in social capital. So public demands lateral entry. (2) Lack of good governance reduces legitimacy of govt. Eg. Brexit vote due to low growth in UK by European policies.

Diagram
[Social capital] <------> [good governance] Virtuous cycle

Thus these are concepts that reinforce each other.

Close · a summary

Eg. Brexit vote due to low growth in UK by European policies. Thus these are concepts that reinforce each other.

3 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper IV, Q6(b). The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.