---

This is the first published attempt at a systematic study of all the elements of the Social Capital of national entity in the Middle East, the modern state in transition of Iraq. The study finds that Iraq´s social capital comprises the willingness of ordinary Iraqis, no matter what their ethnicity or religious affiliation may be, to come together as members of personal social networks, to give freely their combined assets of information, practical skills, time, expertise and material assets, plus their emotional support, The study provides insights into how social networks are formed, how they function at the daily grassroots level and how they adjust to Iraq´s continuing social tensions. The study will be of special interest to social researchers examining Social Capital in their own communities; to Social Capital theorists; to public policy advisers and to social network and other organisational theorists and model lists looking to the social context of their theoretical directions.

---

Dr Ban Al-Katawi first became focussed on Social Capital in Iraq. Her thesis, the subject of this publication, is one of the first academic examinations of the way in which the people of a nation´s society can come together in special social networks to generate community Social Capital and harness it for their own mutual survival and benefits.

---