Use of the concept of social capital is part of a general theoretical strategy discussed in the paper: taking rational action as a starting point but rejecting the extreme individualistic premises that often accompany it. The conception of social capital as a resource for action is one way of introducing social structure into the rational action paradigm.

DEFINE: Positions social capital as a theoretical device that keeps rational action assumptions while incorporating social structure, contrasting with extreme individualism.

Coleman, SocialCapitalCreation-1988, loc. 7