Page 92 - Cultural Change and Ordinary Life

Capitals and the use of time 83

indicators of social capital, social trust has fallen in Britain. This is potentially
significant. As Hall says:
First, overall levels of social trust declined between 1959, when 56 percent
of respondents said they generally trusted others, and 1990, when only
44 percent said they did. There is almost certainly a period effect here of
some magnitude. Second, the erosion in social trust has been more sub-
stantial among some groups than others . . . the decline in social trust
has been greater among the working class than the middle class.
(Hall 2002: 32–3)
Moreover, there are significant differences between age cohorts with
younger groups being less trusting.
Hall argues that three factors cause this stability ‘and perhaps even
growth in community involvement in Britain over the years’ (p. 34). These are
first, ‘a radical transformation in the education system, marked by a massive
expansion of both secondary and postsecondary education’; second, ‘a change
in the overall class structure of British society, driven by economic and politi-
cal developments, which have altered the distribution of occupations and life
situations across the populace’; and, third, ‘characteristically British forms of
government action that have done much to encourage and sustain voluntary
community involvement’ (2002: 35). In general, the higher the levels of edu-
cational attainment, the higher the levels of social capital. As British society
has become better educated then the consequent rise in social capital can com-
pensate for falls that otherwise might have occurred. Moreover, participation
by women has increased greatly:
Social capital has been sustained in Britain largely by virtue of the increas-
ing participation of women in the community. This effect might result
from any of three long term developments: the increased exposure of
women to higher education; the growing participation of women in the
labor force; or more general changes in the attitudes and social situation
of women, partly under the influence of the feminist movement.
(Hall 2002: 37)
The second factor concerns significant effects of changes in the class
structure. In summary, the middle classes have more communal interactions
and a greater involvement in voluntary associations and the class structure has
shifted so that there are more middle-class occupations. This should have a
positive effect on levels of social capital. Third, government has worked along-
side the voluntary sector in Britain and therefore has sponsored its continuing
development.
One significant point has already been introduced concerning the decline
in social trust. Hall suggests that it is difficult to be definitive about what might
be causing this, although it might be that, for example, the sorts of association
that people are involved with lessens trust rather than generates it. Political
trust can also be seen to have declined in Britain. However, this does not
mean that political participation has suffered accordingly: ‘Levels of political
participation remain high in Britain despite low levels of trust in politicians
and political institutions’ (p. 52). A key issue that remains, however, is the