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

Course IntroductionCourse Introduction

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

SOCIAL CAPITALSOCIAL CAPITAL

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

Communities have Different Communities have Different Civic StoriesCivic Stories

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.

Photo courtesy of Portland Oregon Visitors Association

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

Reading PutnamReading Putnam

www.BowlingAlone.comwww.BowlingAlone.com

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.)

October 8, 2008October 8, 2008

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT TRENDSTRENDS

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

WHYWHY

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

TimeTime

Lack of free time? Free time same but not usable? Hectic time? Financial anxiety?

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

So what? The ConsequencesSo what? The Consequences

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.

EXTRA SLIDESEXTRA SLIDES

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)