As my colleague Bob Trudeau has already said, Putnam's article
examines the generational thesis and rejects it!!!!! The decline of
associational life in America has NOTHING to do with GENERATIONAL
DIffERENCES!!!!!!
That so many on this list want to attribute the decline in
associational memberships to the moral failings of a particular
"generation" seems to be a very typical American reaction to broad social
changes. Although the focus is on an aggregate of individuals, in this
case, -- a "generation" --, the argument is, in fact, an individualistic
one. "If bowling leagues are in decline, then it must be because I and
other individuals like me, in my generation, are not taking responsiblity
for the public good." The creation of social capital, as Putnam describes
it, cannot be the result of voluntaristic choices by individuals belonging
to a particular generation. Social capital is laid down over long periods
of time through the creation of a wide variety of structural social linkages
-- this is Putnam's point. In his book, Making Democracy Work - about
social capital and democracy in Italy, Putnam argues that differences in
regional social capital in Italy are related to differences that go back to
THE ELEVENTH CENTURY!
The good news for America, in the midst of the recent bad news about
associational life, is that we have a strong tradition of associations -
review your Alexis DeToqueville. That Putnam has made such a splash with
his brilliant bowling league metaphor is a reflection of this. Television
and other widespread technological and social struture changes do present
new challenges, but there is good reason to be optimistic. Certainly, no
one reading this list should worry about "generational" guilt. The trends
Putnam documents are likely to shift as Americans rediscover, what many on
this list already know, the importance and the pleasure of working with
others for the good of the broader community.
Putnam has done us a service in reminding us of the importance of
investing in social capital. This is a lesson that past and current
generations have understood and do understand. My guess is that a vibrant
associational life will return -- in fact, although I don't bowl, I'm
thinking of forming a league -- anyone want to join?
Bill Hudson
Providence College