Differential Effects of Cognitive and Structural Social Capital on Empowerment in Two Community Ecotourism Projects in Ghana

Researchers have cautioned against both erasing conceptual complexities and homogenizing communities in community-based natural resources (CBNRM) studies and interventions. Social capital is seen as an enabler of CBNRM, yet we argue that differential access to social capital and associated outcomes deserves greater attention to avoid oversimplification of community interventions. Drawing upon literature on social networks and social capital, we analyze survey and network data from two community ecotourism cases in Ghana to advance understanding of the empowering capacities and limitations of CBNRM through social capital access. Subpopulations within communities are considered. Results show that residents with greater access to social capital report greater levels of empowerment. However, that relationship seems to be conditioned by one’s involvement, demographics, and by the empowerment dimension under analysis. Implications of the differing relationships between cognitive and structural social capital in relation to several empowerment outcomes are discussed from theoretical, methodological, and practical perspectives.