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Tristan Claridge

Tristan Claridge is a leading expert on social capital with more than two decades of experience spanning research, policy, and practice. He is the Founding President of the International Social Capital Association, Director of the Institute for Social Capital, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Visiting Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University. Tristan’s work focuses on developing a deeper, more precise understanding of social capital as a critical resource for individuals, organisations, and societies. His work bridges rigorous academic inquiry and practical implementation, offering innovative perspectives on how social capital influences individual and collective outcomes. His research focuses on capital-theoretic conceptions of social capital and the mechanisms by which it is formed, maintained, and eroded — with a particular interest in how people perceive, interpret, and act upon their social connections. A sought-after speaker, educator and researcher, Tristan has delivered keynote addresses, lectures, and training sessions worldwide. He regularly collaborates with other researchers, practitioners, and policymakers on projects that address complex social challenges, from community resilience to organisational development. Whether working with governments, NGOs, or universities, Tristan is committed to building the field of social capital and fostering collaboration among those striving to create more connected, resilient, and equitable societies.

Shared narratives An aspect of the cognitive dimension of social capital

Export Reference Download PDF Print Shared narratives are commonly mentioned as elements of the cognitive dimension of social capital. The other dimensions of social capital being the structural and relational dimensions. This conceptualisation, distinguishing between structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions, is one of the major approaches to social capital. This approach was systematically explored and […]

Shared goals, shared purpose, shared vision An aspect of the cognitive dimension of social capital

Export Reference Download PDF Print Shared goals and shared purpose are commonly mentioned as elements of the cognitive dimension of social capital. The other dimensions of social capital being the structural and relational dimensions. This conceptualisation, distinguishing between structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions, is one of the major approaches to social capital. This approach was […]

Shared language and codes An aspect of the cognitive dimension of social capital

Export Reference Download PDF Print Shared language is commonly mentioned as one of the elements of the cognitive dimension of social capital. The other dimensions of social capital being the structural and relational dimensions. This conceptualisation, distinguishing between structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions, is one of the major approaches to social capital. This approach was […]

New Zealand’s pandemic response: solidarity in a post-truth world

New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been distinctly different to many developed countries that have been plagued by inaction, divisiveness, misinformation, blame and deflection. New Zealand has shown remarkable community cohesion and solidarity and has unified behind the shared goal of eliminating COVID-19 from the country.  Post-truth politics creates a divided and fragmented […]

What does the COVID-19 pandemic tell us about our society?

Why has COVID-19 become a pandemic? There are lots of other pathogens that have not become so prevalent. Why has this virus rapidly spread to people virtually everywhere on earth with little resistance? With all our resources, scientific understanding, and communication technologies how have we failed so emphatically? We have 21st century scientific understanding of […]

What is social capitalism?

Social capitalism is any capitalist system that is structured with the ideology of liberty, equality, and justice. Instead of aiming to accumulate only economic forms of capital, it explicitly values all forms of capital, including social capital, human capital, and natural capital. Instead of maximising profit for the 1%, it involves profit maximisation for all […]

Social connection and the COVID-19 pandemic Impacts on social capital

With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 a pandemic, many people are now facing the prospect of various forms of social isolation in the immediate future. People are being encouraged to maintain physical distance from others to limit the spread of the virus. Some countries have implemented lockdowns that include banning public gatherings, cancelling […]