We hear quite a lot about social capital at the moment. To some
extent, this is probably old wine in a new bottle: people now
say “social capital” where once they might have said “community”
or, more simply, “neighbourhood”. But much as I think the old
wine is a classy vintage, I also think that the new bottle
really does add a bit of value. In wine-lovers’ terms, to extend
the metaphor, I am more inclined to the Australian or Chilean
view of things than the European. What is new about the concept
of social capital is that it asks us to view a whole range of
social connections and networks as a resource, which help people
to advance their interests by co-operating with others. The
relationship between social capital and lifelong learning is one
area where this approach can start to make sense. There is a
well established debate over community and education, and during
the 1970s this discussion increasingly started to explore
learning in adult life and not just in schools. What we still
know very little about