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Key issuesKey issues
I. What is Putnam’s theory of social capital?p
II. What is the evidenceIn Italy?In the US?Worldwide?
III What are the implications for civic III. What are the implications for civic engagement and development in new democracies?
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Putnam’s workPutnam s work
Making Democracy Work (1993) - Italy“Bowling Alone” 1995 Jnl of Democracyg yThe strange disappearance of civic America (online)“ ” “Tuning In & Tuning Out” 1996 PSDisaffected Democracies (2000)B li Al (2000)Bowling Alone (2000)Democracies in Flux (2002)
ldb k / t /s it lwww.worldbank.org/poverty/scapital
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ConceptsConcepts
What is social capital?What is social trust?What is social trust?What is civic engagement?
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Social CapitalSocial Capital
“Features of social life – networks, norms and trust – that enable norms, and trust that enable participants to act together more effectively to pursue shared effectively to pursue shared objectives.”Capacity buildingCapacity building
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Theoretical claimsTheoretical claims
1) Social capital has significant consequences for societal cooperation,
di ti d ll b ticoordination and collaboration2) Social capital has significant
consequences for democratic governanceconsequences for democratic governance3) Social capital explains variations in
performance if Italian regional p f f ggovernment
4) Social capital has declined in postwar A i ( d l h ?)America (and elsewhere?)
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Theoretical frameworkTheoretical framework
Why might social networks and social trust relate to good governance?trust relate to good governance?
Social trust
Social
Civic engagement
Accountable representative
democracy
Better policy
outputs?Social networks
y
Political t st?trust?
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Problems of measurementProblems of measurement
Formal association membershipPoor recordsLevels of membership or activism?Systematic bias towards bureaucratic organizations
Structural not cultural dimensionsStructural not cultural dimensionsNetworks not informal bonds – trade-off?Function of groups matters: bonding or bridging
Individual or diffuse level effectsContextually-specific social relations – diffuse level effects effects
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Civic EngagementCivic Engagement
“People’s connections with the life of their communities not merely with their communities, not merely with politics”
Measures e g long-term trends inMeasures e.g. long term trends inReferendum turnoutNewspaper readershipCultural/sports club membershipCultural/sports club membershipTrade union membership
12 1.Evidence? What makes government work?
Italian regional governmentEconomic modernization?Economic modernization?The civic community?
Civic engagementHorizontal social/cultural associationsHonesty, social trust, law-abidingnessPublic interest not patron-client
13Measures of effective governance
Making democracy work: Italian regional governmentCabinet stabilityB d t tBudget promptnessInformation servicesReform legislationL i l i i iLegislative innovationDay careFamily clinicsIndustrial policyAgricultural spendingLocal health spendingHousing developmentBureaucratic responsiveness
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What are the implications?What are the implications?
For good governance?Can social capital be created/ Can social capital be created/ strengthened?C d b t i d i l Can democracy be sustained in low trust societies?
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