The ideological variable as central element for the constitution and development of social capital

Abstract

The concept of social capital has been boarded with great interest in the last decades by sociology and in general by the theories on development.  The theoretical and applied investigations recognize in this form of capital the reciprocal aid and cooperation as their fundamental components. This article has by objective, to develop an analysis in regards to the importance of the ideological variable for the constitution and development of social capital. Against this background, the specialized literature agrees in the necessity that values, beliefs and norms exist, from which the networks of reciprocal and cooperative relations articulate. These elements constitute ideologies that, from our perspective, assure the formation of social capital that reinforces from the bases of the society, the the complete functioning of democracy.