Robert D. Putnam establishes social capital as the trivial umbrella that encompasses norms, trust, network, reciprocity, collectiveness, collaboration and interconnectivity. All of these individual components combined are remarkably important for the solidification of democracy. The presence of a concrete social capital indicates that coordination and cooperation for a mutual advantage is conducted (Putnam 384). However, in his article “Bowling Alone:America’s Declining Social Capital,” Putnam presents numerous evidence (empirical survey datas) from the field of politics, sports and various associational organizational sphere which demonstrate the drastic shrinkage that social capital in America has experienced throughout the past decades.
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These numbers directly convey the widespread social detachment. The withdrawal of people from other activities that fosters social engagement and eventually aids in the formation of a social capital is also widely noticeable. For instance, the identity of a “churched society” cannot be completely assigned to America anymore during the time period Putnam wrote this article because stagnation is reported in the percentage of people attending church activities and the number of members in Church related organization. Following the same trend, the percentage of workers associating themselves to labor organizations has also witnessed declines. Immediately, it can be seen that civic solidarity which Putnam holds as the key to a “successful region” is not present among the population in America. As a result, negotiations through collective communication cannot be carried out. A powerful element of social capital is parental involvement in the educational sector through parent-teacher association. Alas, there was a sharp drop in participation from 12 million to 5 million by 1982 is reported …show more content…
He associates the involvement of women in workforce to be a major reason that can be held accountable for civic disengagement. Due to participation of women in the labor sector, working hours of average American has increased which leads to a shortage of time available for any sort of civic relationship (Putnam 393).The ability to move from one place to another and the tendency of people to do that due to better transportation facilities or search for economic opportunities also makes it tough to build a platform of network which is essential for the foundation of a social capital. Continuing on, alterations in demographics sourcing from more divorce, fewer births, low wages are also to be held accountable.The disappearance of a nearby grocery and the emergence of a supermarket or the taking over of a small community centered business by a gigantic multinational corporation is equally responsible for the slow demise of social interaction. Moreover, technological advancement has altered the way Americans would spend their leisure. It has significantly promoted isolationism.The tendency to go spend time with neighbors have been immensely diminished because technological outburst such as television has allowed people to remain inside their homes and get the taste of entertainment. Putnam also offers suggestions to prevent further disintegration of the social capital, one of
These numbers directly convey the widespread social detachment. The withdrawal of people from other activities that fosters social engagement and eventually aids in the formation of a social capital is also widely noticeable. For instance, the identity of a “churched society” cannot be completely assigned to America anymore during the time period Putnam wrote this article because stagnation is reported in the percentage of people attending church activities and the number of members in Church related organization. Following the same trend, the percentage of workers associating themselves to labor organizations has also witnessed declines. Immediately, it can be seen that civic solidarity which Putnam holds as the key to a “successful region” is not present among the population in America. As a result, negotiations through collective communication cannot be carried out. A powerful element of social capital is parental involvement in the educational sector through parent-teacher association. Alas, there was a sharp drop in participation from 12 million to 5 million by 1982 is reported …show more content…
He associates the involvement of women in workforce to be a major reason that can be held accountable for civic disengagement. Due to participation of women in the labor sector, working hours of average American has increased which leads to a shortage of time available for any sort of civic relationship (Putnam 393).The ability to move from one place to another and the tendency of people to do that due to better transportation facilities or search for economic opportunities also makes it tough to build a platform of network which is essential for the foundation of a social capital. Continuing on, alterations in demographics sourcing from more divorce, fewer births, low wages are also to be held accountable.The disappearance of a nearby grocery and the emergence of a supermarket or the taking over of a small community centered business by a gigantic multinational corporation is equally responsible for the slow demise of social interaction. Moreover, technological advancement has altered the way Americans would spend their leisure. It has significantly promoted isolationism.The tendency to go spend time with neighbors have been immensely diminished because technological outburst such as television has allowed people to remain inside their homes and get the taste of entertainment. Putnam also offers suggestions to prevent further disintegration of the social capital, one of