L'industriel et le militaire, éléments de réflexion à partir du capital social.. Le cas des Schneider

The Schneider company, founded in 1836, by Eugène and Alphonse Schneider is presented in this article as an answer to a double scientific issue. On the first hand, we analyse the tight links between industrial development and military activity, and in the other hand the basis of the individual decision from the social capital. Railways were Schneider?s first main activity. After the defeat of 1870, Schneider invented and manufactured the ?cannon of the victory?, the 75, which made its national and international success. The Schneiders belong to the middle class, but to succeed, they developed strong links with the State. The concept of the social capital is the basis of our demonstration. In our definition, the social capital is made in three parts: knowledge capital, financial capital and relationship capital. Relationship seem to be determining for accessing to financial capital. The family, giving knowledge (by the education) and financial support to their members, is the basis of this process.