Final Year Project

Project Title

Networks of Privilege vs. Pathways of Struggle: Social Capital and Class Divides

Description

My capstone research examines how social capital shapes educational and employment opportunities in Karachi. The study explores how elite networks provide advantages through connections, institutional prestige, and inherited relationships, while individuals from non-elite backgrounds must rely primarily on merit and personal effort. Using a qualitative-heavy approach, the research draws on semi-structured interviews and an online survey to analyze how access to networks influences internships, jobs, and academic opportunities. The findings reveal that social capital in Karachi often reinforces class inequality, privileging those with established connections while limiting upward mobility for others and, in some cases, restricting it. The project highlights the need to recognise structural barriers beyond meritocracy in order to create more equitable access to opportunities.