NGOs, Social Capital and Tolerance (Case Study: Active NGOs in Shiraz)

Transition to organic communities is an inevitable necessity for contemporary societies. NGOs have been considered as facilitators of this transition in theoretical models of democracy. In this study, in connection with these theoretical models, from a problematic approach, the relationship between social capital and tolerance is investigated. The statistical population included all non-governmental organizations registered in the General Directorate of Sports and Youth of Shiraz.  The data required for this research have been collected using social survey method and questionnaire tools.   The results of data analysis clearly showed that the amount of social capital and tolerance in all dimensions are lower than the theoretical average. Also, the relationship between social capital and tolerance was not statistically confirmed. These findings remind the social policymakers and the scientific, cultural and political community of the need for qualitative research in connection with the exploratory explanation or description of such findings.