Author(s)

Yangyihang Li ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Department of Sociology, School of Sociology and Psychology, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, 102206, China

Corresponding Author

Yangyihang Li

ABSTRACT

Since the advent of the Reform and Opening-up era, folk beliefs have gradually emerged as a crucial lens through which to understand local order and grassroots governance; however, the social capital generated by these beliefs does not necessarily translate into governance resources. This article takes the Duangong folk belief in Long County as an example, based on semi-structured interviews. Drawing upon Lin Nan's social capital theory and combining it with the frameworks of "investment-mobilization-return" and "institution-authority-network-function," this study analyzes the mechanisms through which social capital is generated and transformed. Research reveals that the Duangong folk belief system, through ritual interactions, risk narratives, and networks of acquaintances, generates cohesive social capital centered on trust, norms, and strong ties. However, when entering the field of grassroots governance, it is affected by factors such as institutional access, authority connection, network bridging, and functional limitations. Its returns remain primarily within the lifeworld in the form of emotional support and relationship maintenance.

KEYWORDS

Folk beliefs; Grassroots governance; Social capital

CITE THIS PAPER

Yangyihang Li. From the Lifeworld to the Governance Arena: Boundary Mechanisms of Social Capital Transformation in Folk Belief. Journal of Sociology and Ethnology (2026). Vol. 8, No. 2, 61-68. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jsoce.2026.080209.

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