Social Capital, Inequality, and Health in the Emerging Global Society

This book presents an integrated theoretical approach to the definition of the social capital of the nation-state within the international neighborhood. Three perspectives on social capital are examined; as participation in voluntary organizations, as embedded in network ties, and at the intersection of social structure and agency. Allocation tradeoffs of resources to security versus welfare, instrumental supports that address resource dependencies, and the equality of opportunity resulting from normative convergence within the community are examined for some 90 countries over 29 years. Using life expectancy and infant mortality as measures of well-being, this analysis shows that state participation in global society has a positive effect on population well-being including lower levels of resources needed for security, increased trade, and more opportunities for women. Education for women is shown to be the only action that is resistant to international inequality and the growinghegemony within the international neighborhood. Finally, a case-study comparison of life expectancy and infant mortality between Japan and Brazil over the later part of the 20th century is presented.