Bill Hudson;
I have been reading this disucssion quietly at the same time as I
have been reading Putnam's articles and books.
Your analysis strikes me as the most correct (at least sociologically) that
I have seen about PUtnam. I am less optimistic than you are but I think you
could be right. Our intellectual capital (a la de Toqueville) may be the
foundation of renewed social capital. I hope so. thanks for the stimulating
discussion about structure. Dwight Giles
At 10:51 AM 3/13/96 -0500, you wrote:
>
> 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
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