The idea of 'social capital' is increasingly influencing international, national, and local policy making and work within the social sciences. This book provides an overview of 'social capital' together with critical discussion of its application in a wide variety of fields.However, its rapid rise to prominence has not been matched by proper scrutiny of the idea and its consequences. This book provides the first full critical analysis of social capital, written by authors from a wide range of disciplinary and policy backgrounds. The book asks searching questions. Is social capital really new? Does it offer significant analytic purchase? Can it be an operational, as opposed to rhetorical, concept? Can policies based on social capital deal with conflict and social exclusion? These issues are explored through studies of education, health, poltical science, urban regeneration, economic development and other areas and disciplines. The authors - who include academics, professionals and policy specialists - are all distinguished and prominent contributors in their own fields.