Rethinking asset‐based community development strategies in post‐earthquake China: The role of social capital

Abstract

To date, the discussion of asset‐based community development strategies has focused on the ways in which tangible assets contribute to the material aspects of life. This paper adopts a different perspective by concentrating on the role of intangible assets, that is, social capital, in community development. Via semi‐structured interviews with users of a resource center's services and leaders of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and a quasi‐governmental organization, the author explores the ways in which social capital helps community redevelopment (especially rehabilitation) in post‐earthquake China. The paper concludes that there is room for NGOs to adopt a bottom‐up approach to community development provided they maintain an apolitical and knowledge‐specific stance.