SOCIAL CAPITAL AND SOCIAL CLASS IN EUROPE: The Role of Social Networks in Social Stratification

FLORIAN PICHLER AND CLAIRE WALLACE

Abstract

Social capital has become a much researched concept. However, a neglected dimen-sion of social capital is the role of social stratification and social inequality, something which formed part of the original concept developed by Pierre Bourdieu. In this paper we explore the relationship between social stratification and social capital across 27 European countries using the Eurobarometer 62.2 (N=27,000) carried out in autumn 2004. Through the use of statistical modelling we are able to determine the extent to which individual characteristics, such as position in the labour market, is associated with different measures of social capital and to set this within a cross national context. We find that social stratification is an important element in understanding social capi-tal both at a country and at an individual level. Whereas upper layers of society ex-perience higher levels of social capital, country differences can be ascribed to broader social inequality.