From a Challenge to an Opportunity: Sustainability and the “Dark Side” of Social Capital in Paros, Greece

The role of social capital for socio-ecological systems is undisputed. While fostering cooperation in some communities, however, can also lead to tight control and distrust towards outsiders new practices, contributing the persistence undesirable, unsustainable practices. This paper explores challenges emerging from “dark side” sustainability efforts systems, raising question how they be addressed overcome. It focuses on case Paros, Greece, where decades mass tourism conventional agriculture have put a heavy burden system. In aftermath 2008-2011 crisis, returnees newcomers leaving mainland Greece brought ideas reconcile island's economy, ecology, society with one another. Interviews reveal specifics Paros posed structural, cognitive, relational their projects. Surprisingly, though, those could turned into opportunities embed projects island. Promoting may thus less matter creating more capital, but tailoring interventions specific type available.