Democracies in Flux: The Evolution of Social Capital in Contemporary Society

ISBN-13: 9780195150896 / Angielski / Twarda / 2002 / 528 str.

Robert D. Putnam; Kristin A. Goss

Opis

In his national bestseller Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam illuminated the decline of social capital in the US. Now, in Democracies in Flux, Putnam brings together a group of leading scholars who broaden his findings as they examine the state of social capital in eight advanced democracies around the world.
The book is packed with many intriguing revelations. The contributors note, for instance, that waning participation in unions, churches, and political parties seems to be virtually universal, a troubling discovery as these forms of social capital are especially important for empowering less educated, less affluent portions of the population. Indeed, in general, the researchers found more social grouping among the affluent than among the working classes and they find evidence of a younger generation that is singularly uninterested in politics, distrustful both of politicians and of others, cynical about public affairs, and less inclined to participate in enduring social organizations. On the bright side, social capital appears as strong as ever in Sweden, where 40% of the adult population participate in "study circles"--small groups who meet weekly for educational discussions.
Offering a panoramic look at social capital around the world, this book makes an important contribution to our understanding of these phenomena.

O autorze

The editor of this volume, Robert D. Putnam, is Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University. He is the founder of the Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America, a program that has brought together leading practitioners and thinkers for a multi-year discussion to look for ways to develop civic life. The author has received renown and media attention for his previous work on civil society. Putnam's work on the relationship between civil society and democracy led not only to consultations with former President Clinton and President Bush, and the subsequently heavy influence he exercised on two of Clinton's State of the Union addresses, but also to a profile in People magazine. His work has sparked forums among academics for debates on civic engagement. He regularly speaks to audiences of 3 to 500 people about his ideas.