Analyzing the Pattern of the Effectiveness of Local Community-Based Organizations on the Social Capital of the Rural Areas of Eastern Bandpey, Babol

Nowadays, in the issues of development in general and rural development in particular, the importance of social capital is very evident. So many experts in rural development consider the promotion of social capital as one of the strategies for rural development. But the question is that, given the importance of social capital, how can we enhance its level in rural areas? In fact, the discussion is about finding out the providing resources of social capital and strengthening them. In this regard, researchers refer to resources such as family, schools and other educational institutions, guilds and businesses, and civic institutions and local communities. These resources are all of great importance in generating social capital, but the importance of civic institutions or community-based organizations is more than other sources. In this regard, this study aimed to analyze the position of local community-based organizations regarding the social capital in rural areas. The functioning of the credit and savings associations has been investigated in the case of the rural area of the eastern Bandpey of the county of Babol.
Theoretical Framework: Fukuyama believes that social capital is the set norms of social organization that promotes cooperation of its members and thereby reduces the costs of communication and exchanges between members. Putnam considers social capital as the various aspects of social organization such as trust, norms and networks that can create and facilitate coordination and improve the efficiency of society. In his view, social capital lies in civic and religious groups, family ties, informal social networks, friends and relatives, norms of reciprocity, and trust. Narayan widely uses cooperatives and non-governmental organizations in society as strengthening the foundations of social capital. He believes that cooperation and participation can be considered as the evidence of social capital because social capital refers to capital that, through the creation of strong links between members of a group, creates consequences such as the transfer of knowledge and technology trying to solve the common problems. These features can be found in the people-centered organizations. Bourdieu also knows social capital as the potential and actual sources that the result of property is an enduring network of institutional relations between individuals or in simpler terms, a member of a group to achieve its resource group. Of course, the existence of social capital requires conditions beyond the mere existence of networks and social communication organizations. Sources of social capital for Bourdieu, the location, the relationship in groups and social networks that provide access to opportunities, information, resources, and social status are increased for individuals.
Methology: This study, in terms of the purpose, is functional and in terms of collecting the data is descriptive-survey and regarding the data type, it is qualitative. The study population were the members of the association that in accordance with Cochran formula, 215 subjects were selected and the required data were collected through a questionnaire. This data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests in the framework of SPSS software and also by using structural equation modeling in partial least squares approach with the help of smart-PLS software.
The findings of research adopting a community-based model for measuring the impact of local organizations on social capital show that they have knowledge, trust, partnership, support, and cohesion in rural areas . In setting priorities, reviewing the effectiveness of community-based organizations, findings show that the greatest impact of forums on social capital is related to the dimension of support in rural areas that its average score is equal to 4.38. After this dimension of social capital, the dimension of awareness with an average score of 4.2, dimension of partnering with average score of 4.1, dimension of integration with 3.91, and the dimension of trust with a mean score of 3.83 are ranked second to fourth. The findings also show that the theoretical model can explain 69 percent of variance in the participation variable changes, 70 percent of the variations of cohesiveness, 59% of the variable of knowledge, 68 percent of the support variable, and 80 percent of the variable of trust.
Conclusion and Suggestions: Local community-based organizations in rural areas are a suitable model for the production of social capital. In fact, they are creating a mass communication objective manifestation of social capital such as knowledge, support, trust, partnership, and solidarity. The results show that the impact of community-based organizations on different components of social capital is different. So that the village support component has the greatest impact from local community-based organizations. And after this component, the components of awareness, participation, trust, and coherence are in the next rank. Finally, it is suggested that, given the emphasis on community-based approaches in rural development planning, these institutions should be considered and empowered as appropriate tools for achieving rural development through social capital strengthening.