Individual-Level Determinants of Social Capital: Some Empirical Evidence in MENA

Year 2024, Volume: 39 Issue: 2, 524 - 543

Deena Saleh

https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.1316260

Abstract

Despite social capital's role in shaping nations' economic growth and social development, studies examining social capital determinants have overlooked the MENA region. This study explores personal values and religiosity as possible determinants of social capital in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region by focusing on interpersonal trust. Considering the social and cultural context in the MENA region, the author advances an approach exploring how personal values and religiosity shape interpersonal trust. In doing so, we utilize data from the World Values Survey Round 7. The WVS data pertains to 12322 respondents from 9 MENA countries, which we analyze with the help of linear regression analysis. The novelty of this study lies in covering how individual-level personal values and religiosity influence ingroup and outgroup trust. An important finding is that outgroup trust can decrease when people become more religious, attend prayers frequently, or believe in their religion’s superiority. At the same time, it increases when people attend religious services more frequently. We find that interpersonal trust increases when people favor gender equality.

Keywords

Middle East, Social Capital, Personal Values, Religiosity, Interpersonal Trust, Economic Sociology.

Sosyal Sermayenin Bireysel Belirleyicileri: MENA Bölgesinde Bazı Deneysel Bulgular

Abstract

Sosyal sermayenin ulusların ekonomik büyüme ve sosyal gelişimini şekillendirmedeki rolüne rağmen, sosyal sermaye belirleyicilerini inceleyen çalışmalar MENA bölgesini göz ardı etmiştir. Bu çalışma, Orta Doğu ve Kuzey Afrika (MENA) bölgesinde sosyal sermayenin olası belirleyicileri olarak kişisel değerler ve dindarlığı, kişiler arası güvene odaklanarak incelemektedir. Yazar, MENA bölgesindeki sosyal ve kültürel bağlamı göz önünde bulundurarak, kişisel değerlerin ve dindarlığın kişilerarası güveni nasıl şekillendirdiğini araştıran bir yaklaşım geliştirmektedir. Bunu yaparken, Dünya Değerler Anketi 7. Tur verilerinden yararlanılmaktadır. WVS verileri, doğrusal regresyon analizi yardımıyla analiz ettiğimiz 9 MENA ülkesinden 12322 katılımcıya aittir. Bu çalışmanın yeniliği, bireysel düzeydeki kişisel değerlerin ve dindarlığın grup içi ve grup dışı güveni nasıl etkilediğini ele almasında yatmaktadır. Önemli bir bulgu, insanlar daha dindar olduklarında, ibadetlere sık katıldıklarında veya dinlerinin üstünlüğüne inandıklarında dış grup güveninin azalabileceğidir. Aynı zamanda, insanlar dini hizmetlere daha sık katıldıklarında artmaktadır. İnsanlar cinsiyet eşitliğini desteklediklerinde kişiler arası güvenin arttığını bulduk.

Keywords

Orta Doğu, Sosyal Sermaye, Kişisel Değerler, Dindarlık, Kişilerarası Güven, Ekonomik Sosyoloji.

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