In an interview with RFE/RL Francis Fukuyama talks about social capital and democratic reforms in Ukraine.
Governments can only create a framework in which people can create social capital for themselves, and so the government has to avoid being too interventionist in controlling everything. People have to be allowed freedom to associate and to work with each other. But the government has to provide the basic security stability, social order, and political order. That’s also another necessary condition for social capital to arise.
I can think of a few countries where governments assume a larger role in creating social capital beyond building a basic framework. This is at the core of the today’s debate on liberty and stability, as in some countries citizens seem to give up some of their liberties in exchange for stability, order, security, and other things opposite of chaos and unpredictability. How do you strike the right balance between too much government control and not enough institutions to foster social capital? I would suggest taking a closer look at the role of constitutions. Any other ideas?
Published Date: October 16, 2006