The Dynamics of Outgroup Social Capital in Local Communities: A Capacity-Building Approach and Integration of Qualitative and Quantitative Findings

Purposes: Social capital, as a set of networks, norms, and social trust, is considered a key factor in the formation of social cohesion and sustainability. One of its less studied dimensions is extra-group social capital, which refers to the links and connections between different social groups and can pave the way for cooperation, exchange of resources, and reduction of social conflicts. The importance of this type of social capital is especially important in local communities where cultural, ethnic, or livelihood diversity is high, as it provides the capacity to build intergroup solidarity. On the other hand, building the capacity of local communities as a social and participatory process creates a suitable platform for promoting extragroup social capital. This capacity building not only seeks to empower individuals and groups, but also creates mechanisms for developing mutual relationships and strengthening collective cooperation. In recent years, anthropological and sociological studies have repeatedly emphasized the need to pay attention to indigenous capacity-building mechanisms for sustainable social development. Despite the importance of the topic, few studies have examined the dynamics of outgroup social capital with an emphasis on capacity building. Therefore, the present study attempts to evaluate the dimensions and functions of outgroup social capital in the context of local communities by employing a mixed research approach (qualitative and quantitative).

Methodology: This study, using a sociometric approach and using the social network analysis method, examines the structure of relationships between local actors at both macro and micro levels in Bakherz County and in the context of the development plan and the progress of rural systems. The statistical population of the study includes local organizations in 6 villages of the aforementioned county, including the villages of Nosrat Abad, Qaleh-e-No Shamlu, Shahid Beheshti, Eshtivan, Erzneh, and Abineh. The statistical population of this study is 18 people, each local organization includes three people from the same village who have more interactions with people outside their village than other residents and are considered more influential people. The main data collection tool was a network analysis questionnaire that was completed through face-to-face interviews and direct observation. To ensure the face and semantic validity of the questionnaire, the opinions of professors and experts at the University of Tehran were received and necessary amendments were made. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient, which was equal to 0.82 and was confirmed. Social capital was measured based on two key components of trust and participation, which were measured using a Likert scale (from very low to very high). In this process, three thought leaders (the most influential people in each village) are identified from each village and participate in the framework of an out-group organization in line with the aforementioned goals.

Findings: The findings show that after the participatory intervention of the Abadani and Progress of Rural Systems Plan, macro-network indicators such as density, bidirectionality, transportability, and average geodesic distance have significantly improved in both the trust and participation networks. Also, at the micro level, the increase in the dispersion of input, output, betweenness, and proximity centralities indicates a redistribution of network power, promotion of relational justice, and improvement of access of actors to each other. These changes indicate increased cohesion, facilitation of inter-village communication, and strengthening of out-group social capital in the social network structure. From a theoretical perspective, this research contributes to the enrichment of the literature on social capital and social innovation in rural contexts by emphasizing the role of outgroup networks consisting of opinion leaders in rural areas.

Conclusion: The findings of this study show that extra-group social capital in local communities is a dynamic and multidimensional phenomenon that can be strengthened or weakened under the influence of local capacity building. Strengthening mutual trust, expanding communication networks between social groups, and increasing collective participation are among the most important outcomes of capacity building in this area. The results also indicate that exogenous social capital will be sustainable and have a positive function when it is based on the lived experiences and indigenous mechanisms of the local community. Accordingly, capacity building is not simply a technical or organizational process, but rather a socio-cultural process that, given the local context, can pave the way for sustainable social cohesion and development. Therefore, the attention of policymakers and planners to the local dimensions of capacity building and its role in strengthening extra-group social capital can be a way to improve the quality of life and reduce social gaps in local communities.