American Voluntarism, Social Capital, and Political Culture

Robert Putnam has suggested that membership in American voluntary associations has declined in recent decades. The contention now has been challenged by various writers. The historical evidence indicates that associations come and go, reflecting changes in society. Using specific examples to prove there is a malaise that threatens democracy is a risky business. Some associations have simply failed to meet the needs of a better-educated, more discriminating public and have paid the price. A Darwinian process of selection goes on all the time among the many thousands of American groups. Different kinds of voluntarism are constantly being invented. For example, the Internet and World Wide Web have created a whole new voluntary world, which is just beginning to find its voice. This underlines the need for a more detailed examination of the issues and the data than has been the case.