Introduction / Heiner Meulemann
Part I. Causes of social capital. Does the state affect the informal connections between its citizens? New institutionalist explanations of social participation in everyday life / Tom Van der Meer, Peer Scheepers, and Manfred te Grotenhuis; Is altruism more effective where it is required more? Collectivity-orientation and involvement in interest, issue and religious associations / Heiner Meulemann; What makes people trust in their fellow citizens? / Katja Neller; What determines citizens' normative conception of their civic duties / Bas Denters and Henk van der Kolk; Why television does erode social capital and why newspaper reading does not / Rüdiger Schmitt-Beck
Part II. Consequences of social capital. Social capital and political involvement / Jan W. van Deth; Social capital and political trust / Oscar W. Gabriel and Melanie Walter-Rogg; Explaining level and equality of political participation. The role of social capital, socioeconomic modernity, and political institutions / Edeltraud Roller and Tatjana Rudi; Social capital and empowerment at the work place / Heiner Meulemann
Conclusion. Retrospect and prospect / Max Kaase.