Doofs as social infrastructure: Let’s talk about social capital

Since November 2024, Norton Research Consulting has been collecting data from festival organisers, artists and long-term festival participants. The survey explores the evolution of festival culture, and importantly, the data demonstrates how participation in festivals benefits individuals and communities.

A total of 153 responses were given. The full whitepaper will be available on the NRC website later this year. For now, I’d like to give a sneak peek at the results! I've been analysing the survey responses, and something really stands out.

These festivals are not isolated events. They are vital community spaces that build what sociologists refer to as ‘social capital’.

What is social capital?

Social capital is a theoretical term that refers to the web of networks, relationships, and shared values that enable cooperation and mutual benefit within communities. In other words, it’s the glue that holds communities together. Communities that have strong social capital are more likely to share resources and engage in positive pro-social behaviour. Check out some of Robert Putnam’s work if you’re interested in learning more.

Government agencies recognise that social capital is essential for community resilience and wellbeing. Australian disaster recovery programs specifically target rebuilding social capital in affected communities. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released a framework for measuring social capital, and the Australian Institute of Family Studies regularly conducts research aimed at building social capital.

Evidence from the data

The survey responses demonstrate uniquely strong network formation through festival participation. The stories describe connections that run exceptionally deep. These bonds last decades beyond initial experiences. One participant wrote:

“..the community we’ve created are the most authentic people, we are close friends because we’ve created and nurtured those friendships in a different context to normal society. I met my husband at a doof!”

Shared values are a key determinant of strong social capital. Shared values bring communities together and enable collective action on important issues. Participants frequently described community values of kindness, acceptance, altruism and environmental protection. A number of participants referred to PLUR (peace, love, unity, respect), a concept originating in early 90s rave culture.

“..[the scene] has made a profound impact on the importance of one’s sense of self and sense of community. It promotes the importance of taking care of the environment, understanding why and how it impacts others. It has provided me with ways to heal and share that with others. It helps promote each individual’s accomplishments and interests, inspiring people to work and contribute as a community.”

The festival ecosystem supports diverse livelihoods and career pathways. The data reveals numerous career trajectories emerging from festival participation. From DJs to visual artists to construction workers, these networks generate significant economic activity.

“It has become my livelihood, my work, my play, where I ground myself, where I make my living, where I spread the magic that I create… If it wasn't for festivals, I wouldn't be able to pay off my mortgage or look after my family. I wouldn't have employees.”

To cultivate social capital, researchers and government agencies aim to create ‘social infrastructure’. Essentially, these are spaces that facilitate the building of social capital. They are spaces that enable positive interactions between community members and opportunities to cooperate and share resources. The data suggests that Australian neo-bush festivals (doofs) are essential social infrastructure. They are super-generators of lasting social capital.

“It shaped my entire life!! Without this platform to perform in playing my music, doing dance performance, creating an alternative fashion label and now venturing into the world of psychedelic tattoo, I can honestly say I’d be completely lost. My network is MASSIVE. My support team in this community are THE BEST PEOPLE I KNOW! …I’ve built two businesses from it, and without this community, it would not work.”

What we can learn from doof culture

We have valuable lessons to learn from doof culture. Festival spaces demonstrate effective principles for generating strong social bonds that could inform broader social policy.

The data shows why these spaces succeed: they encourage authentic expression and create meaningful shared experiences and values. These principles have potential applications in community development beyond festival contexts.

Recognising festivals as social infrastructure reveals the true cost of losing these cultural spaces. When we view festivals solely as entertainment events, we miss their profound role in building and maintaining vital community connections. Understanding this dimension helps us recognise their true value as incubators for the social capital that makes communities more resilient, creative and supportive.

Resources

• ABS: 4160.0 - Measuring Wellbeing: Frameworks for Australian Social Statistics, 2001 

• Australian Red Cross: Relationships matter: The Application of Social Capital to Disaster Resilience

• Dunwoodie, K., Webb, S., Wilkinson, J., & Newman, A. (2025). Social capital and the career adaptability of refugees. International Migration, 63(1), e12787.

• Portes, A. (2024). Social capital: Its origins and applications in modern sociology. New Critical Writings in Political Sociology, 53-76.

How to cite this article:

Norton, M. (26 April 2025). Doofs as social infrastructure: Let's talk about social capital. Norton Research Consulting. Retrieved from https://www.nortonresearchconsulting.com.au/blog