The Application of the Concept of Social Capital in Understanding Marriage and Family in Contemporary Serbia
The Application of the Concept of Social Capital in Understanding Marriage and Family in Contemporary Serbia

Author(s): Mirjana V. Bobić
Subject(s): Sociology, Cultural Anthropology / Ethnology, Sociology of Politics
Published by: Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Keywords: social capital; social demography; marriage; family; Serbia
Summary/Abstract: The paper tackles the application of the concept of social capital to the sociodemographic analysis of marriage and family in contemporary Serbia (without Kosovo and Metohija). In the first part of the paper an analytical framework is introduced. The author adheres to Bourdieu’s and Coleman’s standpoints. These are complemented with Becker’s paradigm of new economics of households, all of which has proved to be a solid theoretical basis for demography. By that token, paradigms of social and human capital have been related to the demographic discourse. Demographic processes and structures are interpreted by way of exchange of capitals and resources (biological, economic, social, cultural and symbolic) among individuals and social networks (relatives, family group) based on values of trust and reciprocity and aimed at bio-social and reproduction of habitus. Individuals are treated as actors acting both rationally and irrationally in a very sensitive domain of personal life in which both objective structures (positions) and disposition/choices are overlapping. The empirical evidence is twofold, consisting of demographic statistics and empirical findings derived from four surveys carried out by the Institute for sociological research, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. Field research on socio-demographics, gender and intergenerational relations and value profiles indicate to the dominance of bonding capital to the expense of bridging and linking ones, due to uncompleted social transformation, low living standards and insufficient democratic culture, individualization and mistrust in state and institutions. Therefore private sphere is overwhelmingly strengthened but at the same time it is highly risky (conflict). Results highlight that gender relations are persistently patriarchal, asymmetrical and complementary (“the rule of male”), but some shifts are nevertheless evident. Lack of welfare state combined with structural barriers slower emancipation, females’ in particular and challenges the separation of youth. Young generations delay transition into adulthood and union formation. They even choose to reject them instead of performing some major shifts. Combined stalled social and demographic transformation produce great demographic losses (negative natural growth, emigration and depopulation) and social disadvantages as well. In conclusion the revitalization of demographic regime is shortly considered. It is perceived through the democratization of gender and intergenerational relations as well as by way of readjustment of social institutions to the change of demographic regime in the 21st century.

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