The purpose of this study is to examine that social capital can support to reduce social exclusion through the case of an active of a nonprofit self-sufficiency organizations(heareafter 'NSSOs') in Korea. The nonprofit self-sufficiency organizations i...
The purpose of this study is to examine that social capital can support to reduce social exclusion through the case of an active of a nonprofit self-sufficiency organizations(heareafter 'NSSOs') in Korea. The nonprofit self-sufficiency organizations in this study means a nonprofit organization that helped job creation and support to inaugurate of an enterprise for the poor after the economic crisis in the late 1990s.
And, this study set up that the cause of poverty is social exclusion.
Social exclusion is a kind of a mechanism that make a specific group separate from the mainstream society. So, it gives attention to 'relation'.
What is more, social capital is made from the network and it function as a fund if the resource from the network and the resource's using and access make interests. Therefore, growing the social capital can solve to reduce social exclusion
In this study, social capital is defined as 'social opportunities given to the poor through the relationship with NSSOs'. And also the participants in the services given by the NSSOs are defined as 'the poor who have been experiencing social exclusion at labor market and social networks as well.'
The independent variable in this study is 'social exclusion experienced by the poor who participate in the services through the relationship with the NSSOs.' The parameter affecting the independent variable is 'social capital produced by the poor who participate in the programs by NSSOs.'
Social capital is composed of 'presenting job opportunity', 'internal solidarity at work place through the activities aimed at boosting integration', 'useful resources and opportunities through linkage with other organizations'. The concepts of integration and linkage are given advices to Woolcock(1998) that used for analysis in the micro level.
Three major things will be dealt with here in this study. First, the methodology underlying NSSOs's activities through analyze the birth of NSSOs. Second, NSSOs activities to increase the social capital among the poor. Last, the relationship between social capital increased by NSSOs and social exclusion.
The results are as follows;
First, the NSSOs in Korea share common 'methodology'. This is ascribed to the fact that NSSOs have unique backgrounds. Many social movement organizations began to work with the government when government changed its social welfare policy into workfare during the economic crisis in the late 1990s. Micro-network of urban poor movement actors was a primary sub-structure in this process and mesomobilization actors had an important effect upon presentation of agendas and organization. And then hard efforts were done to organize already-existing organizations, which helped each separate activist and organization get together under the shared agendas. Those shared agendas include 'co-operate work', 'social employment', 'self-solution method on the problem.' These agendas influence education of the participants, management of the work place, and all areas concerned with NSSOs.
Second, presenting job opportunity is given to the poor were excluded from labor market. NSSOs give the poor the chance to give a helping hand to society through their labor in the form of 'social employment' or 'returning the profits to society.' Meanwhile, NSSOs are trying to boost self-support consciousness of the poor through cultivate education. And strengthen integration with member at the workplace through co-operation oriented economic organization, right endowment, and inducement to self-gorvenment organization. In addition, the NSSOs strngthen linkage with outside organizations in order that supplement weak part of the poor at the workplace.
Third, Psycho-emotional aspect should be considered. Even though economic benefits are not so great, the poor take participate work of NSSOs are satisfied when they get a chance to work, which means the job opportunities are greatly helping the poor to feel psychologically secured. The participants are reported high satisfaction with the cultivate education programs. They also show they appreciated trust at the workplace. And then they recognize that life chances are increased before participation.
The participants recognize to raise their social status before participation, and report that they view themselves more positively than the poor who are in similar economic situations but who do not participate in the programs.
To sum up, the poor who participate in the programs by the NSSOs in Korea can have the chance to boost their social capital, and this capital can help reduce their social exclusion.