Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Eberhard, John Wesley Author's Email Address jeberhard2@student.gsu.edu URN etd-11202008-104726 Title ATTAINING EMPOWERMENT: THE POTENTIAL OF RELIGIOUS SOCIAL CAPITAL IN MICROFINANCE PROGRAMS Degree Master of Arts Department Political Science Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Dr. Carrie Manning Committee Chair Dr. Jennifer McCoy Committee Member Dr. William Downs Committee Member Keywords
- social capital
- microfinance
- religion in social capital
- empowerment
- non-governmental organizations
Date of Defense 2008-10-09 Availability unrestricted Abstract Despite the remarkable success of microfinance programs in poverty alleviation, empowering the clients of these programs has proven elusive in many cases. Social capital is a commonly missing, or at least misused, asset within microfinance programs, which often leads to this outcome. Creating and fostering social capital will have a positive influence on empowering microfinance clients. The values espoused by certain Christian theologies can have a considerably positive impact on the creation and fostering of social capital. A Christian-oriented social capital also has the potential to alleviate the ills and correct the failures of a microfinance program’s intent to empower clients. This thesis argues that the values and structure of certain Christian theologies and practices create a type of social capital that increases the likelihood of Christian-based microfinance programs empowering their clients.Files
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