Social Capital and Community Networking: Ethno-Cultural Use of Community Networking Initiatives in Canada

Paper presented at the Community Informatics Research Network 2004 Conference and Colloquium: Sustainability and Community Technology, Prato, Italy.Under the umbrella of the SSHRC funded Canadian Research Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN) research study, this paper examines issues of social capital, social inclusion and cohesive and sustainable communities for new immigrants within the context of the federal government’s various Community Networking (CN) initiatives. The first of a two part study, this paper provides a theoretical background to the following questions: i) What do we mean by social capital and information communication technology?; and ii) What do we mean by Community Informatics? Lastly, this paper proposes a research framework on the methodology of how to measure and analyze these questions. In essence, this study seeks to answer the following question: Has providing technical ‘connectedness’ via public access to community-oriented internet services promoted sustainable social, cultural and economic ‘connectedness’ and development for Canada’s new immigrants and ethno-cultural communities? This study is an attempt at examining the potential for ICTs as an enabling tool for the development of social capital in the creation of more cohesive and sustainable communities.Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) - Initiative on the New Economy Public Outreach Grant; Canadian Research Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking (CRACIN)