Includes bibliographical references (p. 213-248) and index.

"In the last three decades we've experienced increasing "intense moral individualism," and at the same time we've witnessed massive globalization. To some degree, at least, these trends are in opposition and even conflict. Patricia Illingworth explores concepts, structures and institutions that we might develop to make their interactions constructive, rather than destructive, and makes the case that "social capital" is a moral good and that ethics and law can play a vital role in both replenishing our reservoir of social capital, and in sustaining it at higher levels. This short, powerful and passionate book argues that "social capital" should be an essential ethical concept guiding our actions, and explains how one might go about implementing this idea in a positive way"--