SOCIAL NETWORKS IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL: A REVIEW OF FOREIGN THEORETICAL APPROACHES

Currently, society lives in the conditions of continuous expansion of the communication space. This is manifested in the transformation of old and the emergence of new types of interaction of individuals in the economic, political, social, spiritual spheres of society. The study of social networks is an actively developing area in theoretical sociology, and the concept of social networks is the most natural in the description and construction of a social structure. In a broad sense, a social network is understood as many points (members of a social system), to a greater or lesser extent, related to each other. In this article we will illustrate the main stages of the evolution of the concept of “social network” in the works of foreign researchers. Let's take a closer look at foreign theoretic approaches to the study of social networks as a structural element of social capital. In the conclusion of our analysis, we will list the main characteristic features of a social network, on the basis of which we will formulate a generalized definition of this phenomenon.