Farr's Conceptual History of Social Capital

James Farr wrote an interesting conceptual history of social capital.

Abstract:

Taking its departure from current debates over social capital, this article presents new textual findings in a backward-revealing conceptual history. In particular, it analyzes the texts and contexts of Lyda J. Hanifan who was rediscovered by Robert Putnam as having (allegedly first) used the term; it offers discoveries of earlier uses of the term and concept—most notably by John Dewey—thereby introducing critical pragmatism as another tradition of social capital; and it recovers features of the critique of political economy in the nineteenth century—from Bellamy to Marshall to Sidgwick to Marx—that assessed "capital from the social point of view, " especially cooperative associations. While it ends with Marx’s use of "social capital, " Dewey is its central figure. The article concludes by returning to the present and offering work, sympathy, civic education, and a critical stance as emergent themes from this conceptual history that might enrich current debates.

This can be found via the UNC eJournals link.

Farr, James. (2004). Social Capital: A Conceptual History. Political Theory 32(1): 6-33. Available at Sage Journals Online.