社會資本概念近年來深受學界的普遍討論。概括地說，社會資本指涉的是人們可以運用來解決共同問題的社會信任、規範和網絡之存量。因此，社會資本概念蘊含利他主義，意謂個人效用影響他人效用，這種外部性效果為社會資本的重要特性之一。對鄉村和都市社區而言，社會資本表示社區成員藉由參與正式和非正式的制度和機制，得以產生互動並連結在一起，解決共同問題，達成永續性的目的。因此，永續社區發展是目的，而如何達成永續社區發展的策略規劃，則與社會資本的活化和運用有密切關係。本文的論述架構，首先說明社會資本的意義、層次、形式和功能；其次探討地理的、非地理的社會資本及永續社區發展之概念；最後說明運用社會資本以推動永續社區發展的原則。

A rapidly expanding literature is focused on the concept of social capital and its applications on the community studies. In terms of social capital, it means the stocks of social trust, norms and networks that can be drawn on for solving common problems. Altruism and externality of public goods are important properties of social capital. Specifically, the social capital in a community refers to the institutions and mechanisms through which community members relate to and interact with each other for reaching the objective of sustainability. Sustainable community development is the goal. The revitalization and use of social capital is the strategy. This paper explores the meanings, levels, forms and functions of social capital firstly. Secondly, the concept of sustainability and principles of sustainable community development are discussed. Lastly, the principles of drawing on social capital for sustainable community development are explained.