Churchgoers and the Fair Trade Town: an analysis in terms of social and spiritual capital

Abstract

In this article I analyse the Fair Trade Town project in terms of both social and spiritual capital. In bringing together diverse sections of communities, the work that churchgoers carry out in promotion of Fair Trade can serve as an example of the generation of social capital. However, the concept of social capital fails to capture the role of core Christian concepts, such as justice and the love of neighbour, in the practice of Fair Trade. Spiritual capital, the motivation for churchgoers to carry out the work that they do for Fair Trade and other action for social justice, has an important role to play. Spiritual capital can serve as a source of bringing communities together, but also as a form of division, as economic paradigms are challenged. I identify a key role for the spiritual capital that fuels Christian action for the Fair Trade Town and other work for social justice: it has the potential to contribute to addressing the degraded nature of contemporary public debate.