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Civic Engagement and Civic Engagement and Social Institutions, PA 410USocial Institutions, PA 410U
Steve Johnson, Ph.D.Steve Johnson, Ph.D.
Fall, 2008Fall, 2008
October 1, 2008October 1, 2008
Class overview and requirementsClass overview and requirements
My backgroundMy background
Class exercise/interactive, introductionsClass exercise/interactive, introductions
Background: civil society, civic engagementBackground: civil society, civic engagement
Creating work groupsCreating work groups
Learning GoalsLearning Goals
Understand role of civic engagement in a Understand role of civic engagement in a healthy democracyhealthy democracy
Understand the relationship between Understand the relationship between healthy democracy and social capitalhealthy democracy and social capital
Further understand analytical writing and Further understand analytical writing and research methodsresearch methods
Learn about Portland’s civic lifeLearn about Portland’s civic life Gain skills in facilitating group processGain skills in facilitating group process
Civil SocietyCivil Society
Non-profit, organized groups, clubs and Non-profit, organized groups, clubs and associations in society that operate associations in society that operate independently from government and the independently from government and the state. Examples of groups in civil society state. Examples of groups in civil society include universities, non-governmental include universities, non-governmental organizations, environmental movements, organizations, environmental movements, indigenous peoples' associations, indigenous peoples' associations, organized local communities and trade organized local communities and trade unions. Civil society can be organized at unions. Civil society can be organized at the local, national and international levelthe local, national and international level
What is Civic Engagement?What is Civic Engagement?
Civic engagement refers to activities by Civic engagement refers to activities by which people participate in civic, which people participate in civic, community and political life and by doing community and political life and by doing so express their commitment to so express their commitment to community community
Such activities include volunteering, Such activities include volunteering, voting, community organizing, political voting, community organizing, political advocacyadvocacy
Collective Action and Social Collective Action and Social MovementsMovements
IIsolated social actions become a movement when:solated social actions become a movement when: There are Political opportunitiesThere are Political opportunities Woven together by social networksWoven together by social networks Effectiveness often driven by civic innovations Effectiveness often driven by civic innovations
or “repertories of contention.”or “repertories of contention.”
Social movements move civic life foreword through Social movements move civic life foreword through waves of cooptation and institutionalizationwaves of cooptation and institutionalization
Marching on Washington, Marching on Washington, D.C.D.C.
Example of changing power of social Example of changing power of social actionaction
DeTocqueville’s AmericaDeTocqueville’s America
Viewing birth of democracy, wondering:Viewing birth of democracy, wondering: As people can no longer be self sufficient where As people can no longer be self sufficient where
will they turn?will they turn? If people turn to government then society will be If people turn to government then society will be
more regulated and restrictivemore regulated and restrictive Can the ”feebleness” of democracy be Can the ”feebleness” of democracy be
augmented through associations and institutionsaugmented through associations and institutions
Character of American DemocracyCharacter of American Democracy
In America the individual rights are held higher than In America the individual rights are held higher than creating the common goodcreating the common good
Concerned more to promote individual liberty than to Concerned more to promote individual liberty than to secure public justicesecure public justice
To advance interests rather than to secure public goodTo advance interests rather than to secure public good To keep men safely apart rather than to bring them To keep men safely apart rather than to bring them
fruitfully together. fruitfully together. On-going tension between Madisonian (Federalist) and On-going tension between Madisonian (Federalist) and
Jeffersonian (republican) values. Direct or Jeffersonian (republican) values. Direct or representative. Elite or populist.representative. Elite or populist.
Brief History Citizen ParticipationBrief History Citizen Participation
1950s: civic elite, public hearings, limited1950s: civic elite, public hearings, limited 1960s: 1960s: Maximum involvement possibleMaximum involvement possible, War on , War on
Poverty and social movementsPoverty and social movements 1970s: Rise of nonprofit sector, 1970s: Rise of nonprofit sector,
Institutionalization of social movements, interest Institutionalization of social movements, interest groupsgroups
1980s: popular pluralism and growth of Astroturf1980s: popular pluralism and growth of Astroturf 1990s: reach for new consensus and civic 1990s: reach for new consensus and civic
innovationinnovation
James ColemanJames Coleman
Goal: to re-establish sociology's worth in Goal: to re-establish sociology's worth in an age dominated by economicsan age dominated by economics
To place value on social relations, social To place value on social relations, social networks and community buildingnetworks and community building
ExamplesExamples
New York Diamond businessNew York Diamond business Safe parks and Jane Jacob’s public Safe parks and Jane Jacob’s public
characterscharacters
Coleman’s definitionColeman’s definition According to Coleman, social capital is not human capital,
anymore than it is economic capital. "It is present," he said, "and yet not tangible, in all social interactions." Social capital, according to Coleman, "comes about through changes in the relations among persons that facilitate action. If physical capital is wholly tangible, being embodied in observable material form, and human capital is less tangible, being embodied in the skills and knowledge acquired by an individual, social capital is less tangible yet, for it exists in the relations among persons."
Bourdieu’s Class definitionBourdieu’s Class definition
Bourdieu defined social capital as "the Bourdieu defined social capital as "the sum of the resources, actual or virtual, sum of the resources, actual or virtual, that accrue to an individual or group by that accrue to an individual or group by virtue of possessing a durable network of virtue of possessing a durable network of more or less institutionalized relations of more or less institutionalized relations of mutual acquaintance and recognition." mutual acquaintance and recognition."
Bridging and Bonding Social Bridging and Bonding Social CapitalCapital
Difference between bridging (or inclusive) Difference between bridging (or inclusive) and bonding (or exclusive) social capitaland bonding (or exclusive) social capital
Bonding capital constitutes a kind of Bonding capital constitutes a kind of sociological super-glue, whereas bridging sociological super-glue, whereas bridging social capital provides a sociological WD-social capital provides a sociological WD-4040
Monk Magazine critique of PortlandMonk Magazine critique of Portland
Uncrowded feelingUncrowded feeling Omnipresent treesOmnipresent trees Open/green spacesOpen/green spaces Latte DrinkersLatte Drinkers Book readersBook readers Video watchersVideo watchers Looks like Pittsburgh (more than Looks like Pittsburgh (more than
Seattle)Seattle) Urban Outpost in largely agrarian Urban Outpost in largely agrarian
statestate Jag CityJag City I scrounge, therefore I amI scrounge, therefore I am Stridently informalStridently informal
Keep it old, not make it newKeep it old, not make it new No sales taxNo sales tax Self service gasSelf service gas Beat up and decorated cars/car Beat up and decorated cars/car
artart Not as exquisitely manicured as Not as exquisitely manicured as
SeattleSeattle Light bulb joke: one to screw it in, Light bulb joke: one to screw it in,
and two to file an environmental and two to file an environmental impact statementimpact statement
The Beirut of America (George The Beirut of America (George Bush)Bush)
Anarchist ActivismAnarchist Activism
Monk Magazine critique of Portland Monk Magazine critique of Portland (cont..)(cont..)
Grizzly, gritty and loose around Grizzly, gritty and loose around the edgesthe edges
Lack of anal retentivenessLack of anal retentiveness Happy Face and Bill Nye (Seattle) Happy Face and Bill Nye (Seattle)
Vs. Drugstore cowboy and Tanya Vs. Drugstore cowboy and Tanya HardingHarding
troll like creatures and web-footed troll like creatures and web-footed homelesshomeless
lonely end of the road desperadoslonely end of the road desperados Seattle is wacky weird, Portland Seattle is wacky weird, Portland
just plain weirdjust plain weird Church of Elvis and John CallahanChurch of Elvis and John Callahan
Down HomeDown Home Not too jadedNot too jaded Not too crowdedNot too crowded Not too freneticNot too frenetic Not too homogenizedNot too homogenized big city attractions without big city big city attractions without big city
headachesheadaches cheap jazzcheap jazz SafeSafe mass transitmass transit
Abbott on PDX civic characterAbbott on PDX civic character Weak Political partiesWeak Political parties Nonpartisan city and county Nonpartisan city and county
electionselections Low church attendanceLow church attendance A low generosity indexA low generosity index Ethnic groups have limited Ethnic groups have limited
political salience or cultural political salience or cultural powerpower
labor unions are weaklabor unions are weak Elections won more on issues Elections won more on issues
than personalitiesthan personalities Causes for everyone: tree Causes for everyone: tree
huggers, salmon savers, peace huggers, salmon savers, peace workers and homeless advocates, workers and homeless advocates, etc.etc.
Citizen advisory committees Citizen advisory committees important source of ideas for important source of ideas for public actionpublic action
Government regarded as open, Government regarded as open, honest, accessiblehonest, accessible
Public life takes place around a Public life takes place around a big tablebig table
Anyone accepted as long as they Anyone accepted as long as they accept rules (are polite)accept rules (are polite)
Oregon a place where strong Oregon a place where strong individualism tempers and individualism tempers and challenges strong communitieschallenges strong communities
Abbott Cont..Abbott Cont.. The civic movement is fragile. It is continually under challenge--not The civic movement is fragile. It is continually under challenge--not
from machine politics as in Boston or Chicago, but from the values of from machine politics as in Boston or Chicago, but from the values of privatism.privatism.
With all its virtues, the Portland style tends to muffle radically With all its virtues, the Portland style tends to muffle radically dissenting voices who are unwilling to work on the “team.” There is an dissenting voices who are unwilling to work on the “team.” There is an inability to hear new ideas until they fit the mold.inability to hear new ideas until they fit the mold.
Portland Honors Best Bicycling city Best Bicycling city (Bicycling magazine)(Bicycling magazine)
Best Walking City Best Walking City (Prevention magazine)(Prevention magazine)
Most Sustainable Policies Most Sustainable Policies (SustainLane)(SustainLane)
Most Vegetarian Friendly Most Vegetarian Friendly (Vegetarian magazine)(Vegetarian magazine)
88thth most artists per capita in USA most artists per capita in USA Most woman-owned businesses Most woman-owned businesses (SBA)(SBA)
One of the most attractive for young One of the most attractive for young creative class creative class ((Rise of Creative ClassRise of Creative Class))
But also, one of the five best cities for But also, one of the five best cities for elders elders (AARP)(AARP)
Civic InnovationsCivic Innovations
Supposed Leader CitizensPioneer Square Downtown Business Citizen advisory committeeUniversity District PSU Administration Student war protestMt. Hood Freeway Mayor Goldschmidt SE Portland Legal Defense FundUrban resettlement Planners "hippie" communesOregon Bottle Bill Governor McCall Oregon Environmental CouncilNeighborhood System Mayor Goldschmidt Corbett Terwilliger StudentsPublic Beaches Governor McCall Save our Sands (SOS)
Robert Straub
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
WorldWar I
GreatDepression
WorldWar II
AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
1900-19971900-1997
AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP RATE IN 32 NATIONAL CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS CHAPTER-BASED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
1900-19971900-1997
Mean membership rate for the20th century
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995
ATTENDANCEATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS AT PUBLIC MEETINGS ON LOCAL AFFAIRS COLLAPSESON LOCAL AFFAIRS COLLAPSES
ENTERTAINING AT HOME ENTERTAINING AT HOME BECOMES RARER 1975-1999BECOMES RARER 1975-1999
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Average times
entertained at home last year
TRENDS IN CHURCH ATTENDANCETRENDS IN CHURCH ATTENDANCE1940-19991940-1999
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
55%
1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Average weekly church
attendanceas fraction
of adult population
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Generally ormoderatelyagree
DefinitelyAgree
Disagree
FAMILY DINNERS BECOME FAMILY DINNERS BECOME LESS COMMON 1977-1999LESS COMMON 1977-1999
“Our whole family
usually eats dinner
together.”(married
respondents only)
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE RISE AND FALL OF PHILANTHROPIC GENEROSITY PHILANTHROPIC GENEROSITY
1929-19981929-1998
0.0%
0.5%
1.0%
1.5%
2.0%
2.5%
1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Total giving by
living individuals
as% of national income
FOUR DECADES OF DWINDLING FOUR DECADES OF DWINDLING TRUST-ADULTS AND TEENAGERSTRUST-ADULTS AND TEENAGERS
1960-19991960-1999
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
Adults(multi-surveyaverage)
Highschoolstudents
Percent Who say “most people can be trusted” instead of you can’t be too careful in dealing with people.”
Putnam’s definitionPutnam’s definition Putnam defines social capital as "networks, norms, and
trust--that enable participants to act together more effectively to pursue shared objectives." The actions or objectives of social capital can be political, social or economic.”
One of Putnam's central premise is that one can assess the health of a civil society, the levels and types of civic engagement, by examining the social capital elements of the relationships between people.
Civic engagement and TrustCivic engagement and Trust A society characterized by generalized reciprocity is more efficient A society characterized by generalized reciprocity is more efficient
than a distrustful society, for the same reason that money is more than a distrustful society, for the same reason that money is more efficient than barter. if we don’t have to balance every exchange efficient than barter. if we don’t have to balance every exchange instantly, we can get a lot more accomplished. Trustworthiness instantly, we can get a lot more accomplished. Trustworthiness lubricates social life. Frequent interaction among a diverse set of lubricates social life. Frequent interaction among a diverse set of people tends to produce a norm of generalized reciprocity. Civic people tends to produce a norm of generalized reciprocity. Civic engagement and social capital entail mutual obligation and engagement and social capital entail mutual obligation and responsibility for action.responsibility for action.
Character of Today’s Civic Character of Today’s Civic ParticipationParticipation
the more that activities depend on the actions of others, the greater the more that activities depend on the actions of others, the greater the drop-off in participation. the drop-off in participation.
in other words cooperative forms of behavior have declined more in other words cooperative forms of behavior have declined more rapidly than expressive forms of behavior (e.g. letter writing)rapidly than expressive forms of behavior (e.g. letter writing)
There is more single issue blare and declining civility.There is more single issue blare and declining civility. In 1966, 66 percent of Americans rejected the view that “the people In 1966, 66 percent of Americans rejected the view that “the people
running the country don’t really care what happens to you;” whereas running the country don’t really care what happens to you;” whereas in 1997, 57 percent of Americans endorsed that same view.in 1997, 57 percent of Americans endorsed that same view.
ExerciseExercise
(1) Introduce yourselves.(1) Introduce yourselves. (2) Discuss: What kind of social capital are (2) Discuss: What kind of social capital are
you rich in? Poor in? Bridging? Bonding? you rich in? Poor in? Bridging? Bonding? Political?Political?
(3) Describe groups you belong to. Why? (3) Describe groups you belong to. Why? Or if you belong to no groups, why?Or if you belong to no groups, why?
Creating GroupsCreating Groups
PlacesPlaces ParkPark MallMall Square/plazaSquare/plaza Social/recreational site Social/recreational site (e.g. bowling alley, bar, (e.g. bowling alley, bar,
etc)etc) Business district/stripBusiness district/strip OtherOther
Social InstitutionsSocial Institutions Social clubsSocial clubs ChurchesChurches SchoolsSchools Social service programsSocial service programs Nonprofit and voluntary Nonprofit and voluntary
groupsgroups BusinessesBusinesses Online (Facebook, etc.)Online (Facebook, etc.)
Political Participation: Electoral and Political Participation: Electoral and Public AffairsPublic Affairs
Voting rates down even though franchise expandedVoting rates down even though franchise expanded Knowledge about public affairs downKnowledge about public affairs down Daily newspaper readership downDaily newspaper readership down More and more voter contacts but fewer party workersMore and more voter contacts but fewer party workers participation in politics is increasingly based on the participation in politics is increasingly based on the
checkbook, as money replaces timecheckbook, as money replaces time
Political participation TrendsPolitical participation Trends
Table 1: Trends in political and community participationRelative change1973-1974 to 1993-1994
Served as an officer of some club or organization -42%Worked for a political party -42%Served on a committee for some local organization -39%Attended a public meeting or town or school affairs -35%Attended a political rally or speech -34%Participated in at least one of these twelve activities -25%Made a speech -24%Wrote a congressman or senator -23%Signed a petition -22%Was a member of some "better government" group -19%Held or ran for political office -16%Wrote a letter to the paper -14%Wrote an article for a magazine or newspaper -10%
Associational TrendsAssociational Trends
Number of associations has increased, while the number of members per organizations has declined
While people may still join they are involved less (3.7hrs/mn 1965 to 2.3hrs 1995)
Religious Institutions as Civic Religious Institutions as Civic OrganizationsOrganizations
Church goers are more likely to be involved in secular organizations, vote, and participate politically, and have deeper informal social connections
Churches provide an important incubator for civic skills, civic norms, community interests, and civic recruitment
Religious ideals are potentially powerful sources of commitment and motivation…human beings will make great sacrifice if they believe they are driven by divine force.
Churches and religious organizations are providers of social services.
churches have provided the organizational and philosophical basis for a wide range of social movements
Religious TrendsReligious Trends American’s involved in the social life of their religious institutions,
apart from formal worship services has fallen by one-third since the 1960s
For many boomers privatized religion is a worthy expression of autonomous moral judgment, institutionalized religion is less central to their lives than it was to their parents
The trend has continued with the X generation Percent of Americans with no religion has risen sharply from 2% in
1967 to 11 percent by the 1990s Evangelical religions tend to put more emphasis on internal work
within church, so social capital of evangelicals is bonding more than bridging
So we end up with country ever more clearly divided into two groups--the devoutly observant and the entirely unchurched
Union TrendsUnion Trends
Membership, power, and social capital capacity declined Membership, power, and social capital capacity declined since the 1960ssince the 1960s
Now are bargaining agents not social movementsNow are bargaining agents not social movements Workers today think of themselves more than as a Workers today think of themselves more than as a
worker, less security, more mobility, threat of outsourcing worker, less security, more mobility, threat of outsourcing jobs overseasjobs overseas
On the other hand, percent of Americans belonging to On the other hand, percent of Americans belonging to professional associations has doubled over the last 4 professional associations has doubled over the last 4 decadesdecades
Putnam’s Social capital assessment of Putnam’s Social capital assessment of workplaceworkplace
That some work conditions such as That some work conditions such as downsizing, outsourcing, force people to downsizing, outsourcing, force people to focus on their own survival and to not sustain focus on their own survival and to not sustain long relationshipslong relationships
Nearly 1/3 of American workers have jobs Nearly 1/3 of American workers have jobs that discourage durable social connections, that discourage durable social connections, and that fraction is risingand that fraction is rising
Rights and invasion of privacy at workplace Rights and invasion of privacy at workplace can influence how sociable one can be.can influence how sociable one can be.
Card Playing and the role Card Playing and the role of Machers and of Machers and
SchmoozersSchmoozers Even if we assume, conservatively,
that community issues come up in conversation only once every ten card engagement, the decline of card playing implies fifty million fewer "microdeliberations" about community affairs each year now than two decades ago.
Profile of Volunteers/VolunteerismProfile of Volunteers/Volunteerism
Americans volunteer high rateAmericans volunteer high rate Variables: age, size of community, work Variables: age, size of community, work
status, church and association membersstatus, church and association members Belonging as youth makes difference in Belonging as youth makes difference in
adulthoodadulthood In general volunteering is up but that is In general volunteering is up but that is
more about doing for than doing withmore about doing for than doing with
PhilanthropyPhilanthropy
Poor give as much or more than richPoor give as much or more than rich Joiners are ten times more likely to giveJoiners are ten times more likely to give If we were giving at 19th century rates we If we were giving at 19th century rates we
would give $50 billion morewould give $50 billion more Americans now give less of their income Americans now give less of their income
than they did since 1940sthan they did since 1940s
Against the TideAgainst the Tide
Small GroupsSmall Groups Social MovementsSocial Movements The InternetThe Internet
Small GroupsSmall Groups
40% of Americans say they are members of 40% of Americans say they are members of small groups, self help, reading groups etc.small groups, self help, reading groups etc.
Putnam argues the groups don’t lead to broader Putnam argues the groups don’t lead to broader civic involvementcivic involvement
They make up for loss of family and close They make up for loss of family and close neighborhood ties but don’t reach beyond that. neighborhood ties but don’t reach beyond that. In other words social capital but not broader In other words social capital but not broader civic engagementcivic engagement
But…the “velvet revolution” grew through such But…the “velvet revolution” grew through such small non-political groupssmall non-political groups
Social MovementsSocial Movements it is virtually impossible to overstate the impact
of these social movements on the lives of most American communities and most American citizens…And yet it did not result in baby boomer lifelong activism
social networks are the quintessential resource of movement organizations,e.g., reading groups basis of the suffrage movements, friendship networks, not env. sympathies counted for who got involved in three mile island, etc.
Tertiary organizationsTertiary organizations
these organizations "provide neither connectedness among members nor direct engagement in civic give-and-take, and they certainly do not represent "participatory democracy. Citizenship by proxy is an oxymoron.”
“i know of no evidence that actual participation in grassroots social movements has grown in the past few decades to offset the massive declines in more conventional forms of social and political participation.”
Mother Jones ad, p. 173
Internet & Internet & TelecommunicationsTelecommunications
Not responsible for decline in civic Not responsible for decline in civic engagement (timing)engagement (timing)
Is the internet more a nifty telephone or Is the internet more a nifty telephone or nifty television?nifty television?
Probably will end up complimenting not Probably will end up complimenting not replacing human to human communicationreplacing human to human communication
Qualities of Online communicationQualities of Online communication
Can support large, dense yet fluid group Can support large, dense yet fluid group formationformation
Tendency to be both libertarian and dictatorialTendency to be both libertarian and dictatorial Wider range of alternatives, more difficult to Wider range of alternatives, more difficult to
reach consensusreach consensus Easy in, easy out “drive by” civic involvementEasy in, easy out “drive by” civic involvement Better for maintaining than expanding relationsBetter for maintaining than expanding relations At least now, creates more of divide between At least now, creates more of divide between
have and have-notshave and have-nots
Putnam’s Explanation for Civic Decline in Putnam’s Explanation for Civic Decline in AmericaAmerica
10%
10%
25%
50%
5%
Time and Money
Suburbanization
Electronic Media
Generational
Other
Generational explanation of Civic Generational explanation of Civic DeclineDecline
Kennedy-era vs. Nixon-era yuppiesKennedy-era vs. Nixon-era yuppies Early TV watching more communalEarly TV watching more communal Boomers didn’t drop out, created their own civic Boomers didn’t drop out, created their own civic
processesprocesses Yes, marked by war, yes mistrust of large Yes, marked by war, yes mistrust of large
government, but not local.government, but not local. Bush and Clinton both 60s productsBush and Clinton both 60s products Understanding personalist politics and new age Understanding personalist politics and new age
religionreligion
WomenWomen Women in workforce: One of largest social impacts of last centuryWomen in workforce: One of largest social impacts of last century The place of involvement for women has moved outside the homeThe place of involvement for women has moved outside the home Women invest more time in social life then menWomen invest more time in social life then men Less time in schmoozing activities--uncertainLess time in schmoozing activities--uncertain Women in workforce: Increases opportunity, decreases timeWomen in workforce: Increases opportunity, decreases time Most reasons for employment necessity not fulfillment and those woman Most reasons for employment necessity not fulfillment and those woman
have less time for civic lifehave less time for civic life Women who work fulltime incur the steepest civic penaltyWomen who work fulltime incur the steepest civic penalty In the end, social and civic involvement has declined for both men and In the end, social and civic involvement has declined for both men and
womenwomen
Mobility and SprawlMobility and Sprawl We are not more mobile City dwellers less socially connected Cities, rural and small towns all in civic decline Lifestyle enclaves, and rules governing behavior
have increased More time spent commuting, largest impact on
civic life So sprawl a significant contributor to civic
decline
Social Capital, Poverty and CrimeSocial Capital, Poverty and Crime
The departure of middle class blacks from inner city The departure of middle class blacks from inner city neighborhoods as diminished important source of neighborhoods as diminished important source of social/moral leadershipsocial/moral leadership
Young people steal not just because they are poor but Young people steal not just because they are poor but when adult networks and institutions have broken downwhen adult networks and institutions have broken down
Stack’s study “All our Kin” Found tight bonds of Stack’s study “All our Kin” Found tight bonds of reciprocity in the cityreciprocity in the city
Poverty without social capital is worse Poverty without social capital is worse
Health and HappinessHealth and Happiness Suicide rarer in religious communities, in times of national unity, Suicide rarer in religious communities, in times of national unity,
among married peopleamong married people Disconnected people more likely to die from all causes than those Disconnected people more likely to die from all causes than those
with close tieswith close ties If you smoke and belong to no groups, it’s a toss-up statistically If you smoke and belong to no groups, it’s a toss-up statistically
whether you should stop smoking or start joiningwhether you should stop smoking or start joining Happiness is best predicated by the breadth and depth of one’s Happiness is best predicated by the breadth and depth of one’s
social connectionssocial connections We are feeling down because modern society encourages a belief We are feeling down because modern society encourages a belief
in personal control and autonomy more than a commitment to duty in personal control and autonomy more than a commitment to duty and common enterprise.and common enterprise.
Economic ProsperityEconomic Prosperity In terms of economic prosperity, weak ties are more In terms of economic prosperity, weak ties are more
important than strong tiesimportant than strong ties Where there are not formal credit associations, informal Where there are not formal credit associations, informal
credit relations prosper, especially in immigrant credit relations prosper, especially in immigrant communitiescommunities
Silicon valley and home brew computer club vs. route Silicon valley and home brew computer club vs. route 128 (Boston)128 (Boston)
Social capital of the right sort boosts economic efficiency, so that if our networks of reciprocity deepen, we all benefit, and if they atrophy, we all pay dearly.
Social networks provide jobs, promotions and other Social networks provide jobs, promotions and other employment benefitsemployment benefits
DemocracyDemocracy American democracy had two basic foundations, Madisonian and
Jeffersonian. Fear of “mischeifs of faction,” and believe in the people.
Without collective activities we tend to think of each other in competitive terms
In the language of economics, social capital lowers transaction costs and eases dilemmas of collection action
Civil society institutions have effects on individuals and the community. Develops levels of trust, and builds skills, knowledge and power. An alternative to electoral politics
Quality of Civic EngagementQuality of Civic Engagement People divorced from politics are foremost among
extremism Without associations class bias would be even stronger Middle of the roaders about half as likely to participate in
public meetings, etc. Politics without one-to-one interaction becomes a drive-
by or spectator sport (like talk radio).
Cost of GovernanceCost of Governance
When community involvement is lacking, the cost of governance is higher and the work of bureaucrats more difficult
Areas with high rates of social capital also are areas of high tax compliance
Most political dialogue takes place informally
Place Based social capital Place Based social capital replaced by Function basedreplaced by Function based
Grassroots groups that once brought us Grassroots groups that once brought us face-to-face with our neighbors, the face-to-face with our neighbors, the agreeable and disagreeable alike, are agreeable and disagreeable alike, are overshadowed by the vertiginous (steep) overshadowed by the vertiginous (steep) rise of staff-led interest groups purpose rise of staff-led interest groups purpose built to represent our narrower selves.built to represent our narrower selves.
Portes’ Immigrant Community Portes’ Immigrant Community StudiesStudies
Portes’ definition: those expectations for action within a collective that affect Portes’ definition: those expectations for action within a collective that affect the economic goals and goal-seeking behavior of its members, even if these the economic goals and goal-seeking behavior of its members, even if these expectations are not oriented toward the economic sphereexpectations are not oriented toward the economic sphere
Four types of transactionsFour types of transactions value interjection: Culture normsvalue interjection: Culture norms Reciprocity transactions: chitsReciprocity transactions: chits Bounded solidarity: often created through adversity/external affectsBounded solidarity: often created through adversity/external affects Enforceable trust: internal to community, more specific and enforceable Enforceable trust: internal to community, more specific and enforceable
(credit associations)(credit associations)