Oleg Bazaleev

Taking the example of the Assistance Plan for the Development of Numerically Small Indigenous People of the Sakhalin North, the author considers the social capital inherent in the social networks of indigenous peoples of the Russian North as an important factor in the implementation of social and economic development programs. Drawing on actual cases, he reviews the situations in which social capital (e.g. as a source of benefi ts through extrafamilial networks) and reciprocity make it possible to reduce expenses related to the implementation of programs of the kind. He further examines the cases in which resources associated with the social capital remain unused under present circumstances, as well as situations when the social capital (e.g. resulting in excess claims on group members) can undermine the effi ciency of development programs.