The Paradox of Network: Bonding Social Capital and Criminal Behavior in Criminology Theses

This study analyzes 101 master’s and doctoral theses published between 2016 and 2024 in the ProQuest database, examining how Putnam’s concept of bonding social capital is conceptualized and linked to criminal behavior within criminology literature. Using a Python-supported automated qualitative method, the research integrates thematic content analysis, frequency analysis, and contextual coding. Findings reveal a nuanced, dual impact of bonding social capital: while strong in-group ties can promote pro-social norms and reduce delinquency at the micro level, they may also foster deviant subcultures and facilitate organized crime. The study highlights how the effects of social capital vary across settings and scales, offering key insights into its ambivalent role in the context of crime. Keywords: Putnam, bonding social capital, criminal behaviors, criminology, thematic analysis