An Analysis of Social Capital Generation among Coalfield Residents in Harlan County, Kentucky
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Keywords
Appalachia, coal mining, Harlan County, labor movement, mining community, social capital, unions
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.3167/IJSQ.2015.050105
Abstract
The coal industry exercises a pervasive influence upon mining communities in Appalachia even though it makes minimal contributions to employment. Miners rarely participate in movements that fight against coal companies for better working conditions. One explanation for this paradox is the depletion of social capital. In this article, I first use the existing body of literature to build a theoretical framework for discussing bonding social capital. Second, I analyze how the United Mine Workers of America in Harlan County, Kentucky at the beginning of the twentieth century worked to generate social capital. The results show that these coalfield residents demonstrated a high degree of social capital in terms of a strong shared sense of reliability and a dedication to collective activities and intimate networks. The union during that period engaged in strategies that were instrumental in creating this high level of social capital: holding regular meetings, organizing collective actions, promoting collective identity, and electing charismatic leaders.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
The International Journal of Social Quality, v. 5, issue 1, p. 67-83
Scholar Commons Citation
Hao, Feng, "An Analysis of Social Capital Generation among Coalfield Residents in Harlan County, Kentucky" (2015). Sociology Sarasota Manatee Campus Faculty Publications. 16.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/soc_facpub_sm/16
