Background and Purpose: Social capital is one of the most critical foundations for sustainable development and national. In recent decades, increasing attention has been paid to the role of governance as a key-factor influencing social capital. Weak governance can lead to public distrust and the breakdown of social relations, accountable, and just governance can lay the groundwork for rebuilding social capital. The study aims to examine the impact of governance components on the future of social capital and to propose strategies for rebuilding this asset in the path toward development.
Research Method: This is an applied research in terms of purpose and a qualitative study in terms of methodology, utilizing the “Futures Wheel” technique. Data were collected through literature review and semi-structured interviews with 11 experts. The validity of the research instruments was confirmed through expert review, and reliability was ensured by calculating the percentage of agreement between two independent coders, which reached 84%.
Findings: Findings indicate that components such as transparency, accountability, justice, and future-oriented governance play the most significant roles in strengthening the future of social capital. Conversely, non-transparent and ineffective governance leads to the erosion of public trust, social cohesion, and civic participation.
Conclusion: The results reveal that enhancing social capital requires structural reforms in governance. Without improvements in transparency, accountability, and public participation, the erosion of social capital is continue. This study emphasizes the need for designing future-oriented governance policies to regenerate public trust and social cohesion in the face of country’s current and future complexities.