ABSTRACT
This chapter conceptualizes social capital as the strength of bonds between people who do not know each other. This definition sees social capital as collective in nature, but also as a societal aggregate of individuals' relations, behaviour and attitudes. The social capital concept has also entered the political discourse in the Nordic countries. In Denmark, Sweden and Norway, the question of social cohesion – a close relative of social capital – has given rise to legislation and public debate. Turning to participation in civic life, the Nordics again rank relatively high in international comparisons. They are less distinctive than for social trust, however, and there is some variation across specific indicators. A key to understanding Nordic civil society is the close relationship between the state and civil society. The Nordic exceptionalism in social capital described here naturally raises questions regarding the causes of this phenomenon.
