Ethnic Identity as Social Capital for Community Development: the Case of the Wolaytta Community of Ethiopia since the Year 2000
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Date
2014-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
It is a common proposition that social capital unquestionably results in progressive
community development. Such a proposition or social capital theory in general suggests
about the existence of social capital in any kind of community in general, be it of
political, religious, ethnic, geographic, and so on. However, more specifically, the ethnic
social capital perspective obtained from the study among the Wolaytta would propose
that social capital interweaved in ethnic identity is a stronger one in maintaining the
ethnic unity as well as in promoting community development, particularly for such
specific community. The study among the Wolaytta of southwest Ethiopia, through
qualitative data collection of interviews, focus group discussions and observations with
various community members shows that there are several elements of social capital,
especially bonding social capital, which have direct contribution to community
development, despite the discovery of some of them which can also hamper desired
development. The findings were analyzed through grounded theory method. Since
Ethiopia is home for several ethnic communities, their socio cultural resources with
strong implication for community development can be utilized. The finding of social
capital from this community can fit to the contexts of other ethnic communities in
Ethiopia
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Keywords
Social capital; ethnic social capital; community development; ethnic identity