Bonding and bridging social capital towards collective action in participatory irrigation management. Evidence in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 18 November 2021
Issue publication date: 12 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of social capital with bonding and bridging distinction in promoting higher participation in collective action in participatory irrigation management.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 304 farmers was surveyed using a structured questionnaire. A focus group discussion was also carried out with randomly selected water users, leaders and irrigation officers. A confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to test the hypothesised relationship of bonding and bridging social capital towards collective action.
Findings
The findings show that social capital has a significant direct effect on collective action and an indirect effect on joint irrigation management's perceived performance through collective action (mediator). It implies the need to complement the participatory irrigation management programme with an understanding of the social aspects for a higher farmer's participation over the shared resource.
Originality/value
The paper emphasises social capital's role in facilitating a real participatory engagement in shared resource management. Also, it is the first scholarly work linking social capital with bonding and bridging distinction towards collective action in a joint resource management context.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and the Faculty of Agricultural Technology. The authors would like to thank the farmers and the irrigation officers of Mae Lao Irrigation for their participation in this research.
Citation
Llones, C., Mankeb, P., Wongtragoon, U. and Suwanmaneepong, S. (2022), "Bonding and bridging social capital towards collective action in participatory irrigation management. Evidence in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 49 No. 2, pp. 296-311. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-05-2021-0273
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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