Conference Day 2: Digital Opportunities and Challenges (2A)

Reconnecting with The Bridge Club: A Critical Understanding of Social Capital and Play during a Pandemic.

Kevin Judge, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling

A persistent theme within the course of this collaboratively funded doctoral study is that of social capital. Based on reciprocity and trust, it is a process that has, historically, been described as the glue in social cohesion. It is argued that social capital can provide a seedbed for tight-knit communities to flourish, and that the reach and strength of these social ties grows from shared values and an ethos that reflects fellowship, emotional connection, and social intercourse. However, critical perspectives have voiced concerns that it is an implicitly transactional model for social interactions and relationships that can be more exclusionary than inclusionary, with further tensions becoming apparent as play is overly burdened with an instrumental value. The question emerges of how a ‘glue’ manifests and what are its characteristics when the habits of reciprocity and trust are absent. With reference to social capital, this presentation will explore how the traditional dependence on trust and reciprocity has changed as a result of COVID-19 and the move to online play. To answer this question, this research will provide a snapshot from within the wider doctoral study of the social lives and relationships of those who play bridge. Based on 31 interviews conducted during the coronavirus pandemic and experiences of prolonged lockdown, the voices of young, later life, and returning players, and teachers of the game share stories of loss and rebuilding. Early analysis, therefore, demonstrates the continued relevance of social capital, and highlights how moments of adaptability and flexibility are essential in the formation of social ties. These findings have implications not only for the benefits, motivations, and barriers in bridge but a reimagining of the game as society reopens and reconnects.