ABSTRACT
This chapter argues the concept of social capital, though traditionally a sociological, economic and, more recently, public health concept, should also be understood as an ethical one, one that has promising implications for applied ethics, health care ethics, and global justice. The concept of social capital has been strongly endorsed by the World Bank, and by many governments worldwide Australia, Ireland, and Canada, to name a few. According to a recent World Bank document, social capital is a concept that has significant implications for enhancing the quality, effectiveness and sustainability of World Bank operations, particularly those that are based on community action. It makes little sense to identify the concept of social capital as an ethical concept, unless one can, at the same time, state upon whom the obligation to facilitate social capital would fall. Social capital, generalized reciprocity, and the trust that enables them, have the potential to be important for global justice.
