The Use of Social Capital: An Anthropological Study of Collective Action in an Urban Improvement Project in Hanoi

Abstract

Based on the concepts of social capital and collective action, this article examines a case of urban development in Hanoi. The article examines how social networks, often hidden behind the facade of daily life in the city, are activated when the need to tighten the binding force between people arises. Shared interests, concerns and experiences unify individual protesters into groups aiming at the same purpose. This article also asserts that leadership in collective action, especially that of those who can identify and actively mobilize legal discourse, is crucial for the development of the group. Finally, from an anthropological approach advocating local voices, the article points out that collective action of urban dwellers not only strengthens community sentiments, but also can make public the faulty practices of local government and thus help improve its efficiency.