Tag: Social Capital

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Athanasios PAPADASKALOPOULOS

Professor, Panteion University, Athens, Greece ,Regional Development Institute

pdask@panteion.gr

Panagiotis NIKOLOPOULOS

PhD Candidate, Panteion University, Athens, Greece

p.g.nikolopoulos@panteion.gr

Abstract

The role of social capital in the development process is rendered essential by the intervention of local authorities, local initiatives, relations and networking. In this article is attempted the association of the means of social capital, such as the information transfer, relations of trust, networking, and cooperation, with the main instruments of regional policy, which endogenous growth strategy utilises. Instruments, such as industrial districts, technological parks, local productive systems, business clusters, creative cities, etc. are based on the utilisation of local social capital, which is a prerequisite for a viable application of the endogenous growth and local development policies. The aim of this paper is to examine the relation between endogenous growth and social capital in the configuration of a local development strategy.

Keywords: social capital, economic development, regional development, endogenous growth, local development

JEL classification: O10, R10, Z13
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RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: A VALUE FOR MONEY JUSTICE?

Vasso ARTINOPOULOU

Professor in Criminology, Head of Sociology Department, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences 136 Syngrou Avenue, 17671 Athens, Greece
Co Founder and Co Director of the Restorative Justice for All Institute (London, UK)
vasiliki.artinopoulou@panteion.gr

Abstract

The deadlocks of the traditional criminal justice systems are reflected in the reproduction of the multiple and complex social inequalities, the high rates of reoffending and recidivism, the underrepresentation of the victims’ voices, and the overpopulated prisons.  In this paper, I thoroughly analyze the Restorative Justice case through an evidence-based perspective. I examine the deadlocks of the criminal justice systems by employing recent statistics from the Council of Europe (SPACE I and II). After reviewing the state of the art, I present the potential of Restorative Justice in dealing with the crime prevention and corrections, identifying the strengths and weakness of Restorative Justice on theoretical, methodological and policy level.  Original research findings from a victim-oriented approach are also presented to address the need of expanding Restorative Justice beyond the field of juvenile delinquency. The paper addresses also the economy of the Restorative Justice comparing to the traditional criminal justice systems and focuses on the social capital as a key issue for assessing the impact of Restorative Justice in the community and social level. I conclude with suggestions for a new model of Restorative Justice that brings together theory, research and practice in the criminal justice policies. The need for inter- and trans- disciplinary approaches and synergies is also stressed in the paper’s conclusions.

Keywords: Restorative Justice, Criminal Justice System, Social Capital, Human Rights, Crime Prevention Policies

JEL classification:
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