Date of Award
11-20-2008
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Dr. Carrie Manning - Chair
Second Advisor
Dr. Jennifer McCoy
Third Advisor
Dr. William Downs
Abstract
Despite the remarkable success of microfinance programs in poverty alleviation, empowering the clients of these programs has proven elusive in many cases. Social capital is a commonly missing, or at least misused, asset within microfinance programs, which often leads to this outcome. Creating and fostering social capital will have a positive influence on empowering microfinance clients. The values espoused by certain Christian theologies can have a considerably positive impact on the creation and fostering of social capital. A Christian-oriented social capital also has the potential to alleviate the ills and correct the failures of a microfinance program’s intent to empower clients. This thesis argues that the values and structure of certain Christian theologies and practices create a type of social capital that increases the likelihood of Christian-based microfinance programs empowering their clients.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1059858
Recommended Citation
Eberhard, John Wesley, "Attaining Empowerment: The Potential of Religious Social Capital in Microfinance Programs." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2008.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1059858