The Formation of Social Capital in Neighborhoods: An Approach Through the Case of Población Lo Hermida

The article explores the formation and deployment of social capital in the Lo Hermida community in the Peñalolén municipality. Through semi-structured interviews, a guided tour, and georeferencing of neighborhood organizations, three constitutive elements of this community were recognized: 1) support and neighborly solidarity networks;2) the ability to establish formal neighborhood organizations; and 3) the strengthening of these two characteristics in times of crisis. Likewise, differences are observed between the sectors that divide Lo Hermida, as the Old Sector is more influenced by the narrative of the formation of the settlement, showing a greater predisposition towards neighborly cooperation, as well as having more consolidated neighborhood organizations. Finally, the importance of investigating how historical imaginaries impact the construction of capital and how this becomes more noticeable in times of crisis is emphasized in future research.