Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation

Sovanna Huot

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

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Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation

Sovanna Huot^*

Published in Journal of Political Science and International Relations (Volume 8, Issue 2)

Received: 12 May 2025 Accepted: 30 May 2025 Published: 23 June 2025

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Abstract

This theoretical review goes into detail about how social capital theory might help understand how effective Cambodian young are in politics. Social capital is one of the most important variables that affects how young people act in politics. This comprises the networks, relationships, trust, and regulations that help people operate together. The main topic of the paper is how social capital theory has been used to study how Cambodian teens get active in politics. It does this by looking at the theories of Putnam, Bourdieu, and Coleman and seeing how they could assist in figuring out how well politics works. The review discusses important ideas like linking, bridging, and bonding social capital. It also looks at how these types of social capital affect people's internal political efficacy, or their belief that they can understand and participate in political issues, and their external political efficacy, or their belief that the political system will respond to what citizens do. Social capital is seen as a keyway to get young people involved in politics and build trust in democratic processes in Cambodia, where community networks, family support, and peer pressure are all very important. This review brings together current data to show how important community-based networks are for making politics more effective. It also asks for more research into the links between social capital, political efficacy, and young involvement in Cambodia's democracy process.

Published in	Journal of Political Science and International Relations (Volume 8, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18
Page(s)	104-114
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Cambodia, Social Capital, Youth Participation, Political Efficacy, Community Networks

References

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APA Style

Huot, S. (2025). Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation. Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 8(2), 104-114. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

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ACS Style

Huot, S. Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation. J. Polit. Sci. Int. Relat. 2025, 8(2), 104-114. doi: 10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

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AMA Style

Huot S. Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation. J Polit Sci Int Relat. 2025;8(2):104-114. doi: 10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

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@article{10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18,
  author = {Sovanna Huot},
  title = {Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation},
  journal = {Journal of Political Science and International Relations},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {104-114},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jpsir.20250802.18},
  abstract = {This theoretical review goes into detail about how social capital theory might help understand how effective Cambodian young are in politics. Social capital is one of the most important variables that affects how young people act in politics. This comprises the networks, relationships, trust, and regulations that help people operate together. The main topic of the paper is how social capital theory has been used to study how Cambodian teens get active in politics. It does this by looking at the theories of Putnam, Bourdieu, and Coleman and seeing how they could assist in figuring out how well politics works. The review discusses important ideas like linking, bridging, and bonding social capital. It also looks at how these types of social capital affect people's internal political efficacy, or their belief that they can understand and participate in political issues, and their external political efficacy, or their belief that the political system will respond to what citizens do. Social capital is seen as a keyway to get young people involved in politics and build trust in democratic processes in Cambodia, where community networks, family support, and peer pressure are all very important. This review brings together current data to show how important community-based networks are for making politics more effective. It also asks for more research into the links between social capital, political efficacy, and young involvement in Cambodia's democracy process.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation
AU  - Sovanna Huot
Y1  - 2025/06/23
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18
T2  - Journal of Political Science and International Relations
JF  - Journal of Political Science and International Relations
JO  - Journal of Political Science and International Relations
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AB  - This theoretical review goes into detail about how social capital theory might help understand how effective Cambodian young are in politics. Social capital is one of the most important variables that affects how young people act in politics. This comprises the networks, relationships, trust, and regulations that help people operate together. The main topic of the paper is how social capital theory has been used to study how Cambodian teens get active in politics. It does this by looking at the theories of Putnam, Bourdieu, and Coleman and seeing how they could assist in figuring out how well politics works. The review discusses important ideas like linking, bridging, and bonding social capital. It also looks at how these types of social capital affect people's internal political efficacy, or their belief that they can understand and participate in political issues, and their external political efficacy, or their belief that the political system will respond to what citizens do. Social capital is seen as a keyway to get young people involved in politics and build trust in democratic processes in Cambodia, where community networks, family support, and peer pressure are all very important. This review brings together current data to show how important community-based networks are for making politics more effective. It also asks for more research into the links between social capital, political efficacy, and young involvement in Cambodia's democracy process.
VL  - 8
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Author Information

Sovanna Huot

Department of Political Science, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

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http://orcid.org/0009-0006-8335-442X

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APA Style

Huot, S. (2025). Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation. Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 8(2), 104-114. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

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ACS Style

Huot, S. Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation. J. Polit. Sci. Int. Relat. 2025, 8(2), 104-114. doi: 10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

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AMA Style

Huot S. Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation. J Polit Sci Int Relat. 2025;8(2):104-114. doi: 10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18,
  author = {Sovanna Huot},
  title = {Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation},
  journal = {Journal of Political Science and International Relations},
  volume = {8},
  number = {2},
  pages = {104-114},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jpsir.20250802.18},
  abstract = {This theoretical review goes into detail about how social capital theory might help understand how effective Cambodian young are in politics. Social capital is one of the most important variables that affects how young people act in politics. This comprises the networks, relationships, trust, and regulations that help people operate together. The main topic of the paper is how social capital theory has been used to study how Cambodian teens get active in politics. It does this by looking at the theories of Putnam, Bourdieu, and Coleman and seeing how they could assist in figuring out how well politics works. The review discusses important ideas like linking, bridging, and bonding social capital. It also looks at how these types of social capital affect people's internal political efficacy, or their belief that they can understand and participate in political issues, and their external political efficacy, or their belief that the political system will respond to what citizens do. Social capital is seen as a keyway to get young people involved in politics and build trust in democratic processes in Cambodia, where community networks, family support, and peer pressure are all very important. This review brings together current data to show how important community-based networks are for making politics more effective. It also asks for more research into the links between social capital, political efficacy, and young involvement in Cambodia's democracy process.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Theoretical Reflections on Social Capital and Political Efficacy: Lessons for Cambodian Youth Participation
AU  - Sovanna Huot
Y1  - 2025/06/23
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18
T2  - Journal of Political Science and International Relations
JF  - Journal of Political Science and International Relations
JO  - Journal of Political Science and International Relations
SP  - 104
EP  - 114
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2640-2785
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jpsir.20250802.18
AB  - This theoretical review goes into detail about how social capital theory might help understand how effective Cambodian young are in politics. Social capital is one of the most important variables that affects how young people act in politics. This comprises the networks, relationships, trust, and regulations that help people operate together. The main topic of the paper is how social capital theory has been used to study how Cambodian teens get active in politics. It does this by looking at the theories of Putnam, Bourdieu, and Coleman and seeing how they could assist in figuring out how well politics works. The review discusses important ideas like linking, bridging, and bonding social capital. It also looks at how these types of social capital affect people's internal political efficacy, or their belief that they can understand and participate in political issues, and their external political efficacy, or their belief that the political system will respond to what citizens do. Social capital is seen as a keyway to get young people involved in politics and build trust in democratic processes in Cambodia, where community networks, family support, and peer pressure are all very important. This review brings together current data to show how important community-based networks are for making politics more effective. It also asks for more research into the links between social capital, political efficacy, and young involvement in Cambodia's democracy process.
VL  - 8
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download