In this episode of The Daily, Robert Putnam shares his research on the decline of social capital—the connections and shared sense of responsibility that bind communities together. Through his framework of "bonding" and "bridging" social capital, Putnam explores how diminished community engagement across the United States contributes to polarization, inequality, and social isolation.
He warns that this isolation, particularly among young men, creates susceptibility to extremist ideologies. Putnam offers historical examples and proposes developing modern institutions to foster moral education and community bonds, countering the cultural shift away from shared responsibility.
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Robert Putnam, renowned for his research on social capital, admits to being less socially connected himself compared to his wife, who actively engages in the community. Though highly involved in various activities in his youth, Putnam acknowledges his professional demands have made sustaining those connections challenging.
Putnam's framework distinguishes between bonding social capital (connections with similar people) and bridging social capital (connections across differences). While bonding provides immediate benefits, Putnam warns against its potential dangers of reinforcing exclusion. He argues America must cultivate more bridging social capital to bridge societal divides.
Putnam has mapped a U-shaped curve in social capital, polarization, inequality, and cultural attitudes over 125 years. He attributes the recent declines to a diminishing sense of moral obligation and shared responsibility, which he sees as fundamental to a healthy society.
Putnam views the current crisis of social isolation, loneliness, and distrust as making individuals, particularly young men, more susceptible to extremist ideologies. He argues this isolation stems not just from busyness or technology, but a cultural shift away from a sense of shared responsibility.
Examining historical examples like the Boy Scouts, Putnam proposes developing new institutions tailored to modern youth, combining fun activities with moral education to foster community bonds. Despite challenges in implementation, he remains optimistic about the potential for such endeavors to counter societal disengagement.
1-Page Summary
Renowned political scientist Robert Putnam is renowned for his work on social capital, but he candidly presents the contrast between his professional research and his personal life when it comes to social connections.
Putnam was drawn to the town of Jaffrey because of its inherent social capital and community feel, made evident when a grocery store clerk remembered his potato salad preference from a previous visit. However, he openly admits that it is his wife who truly immerses herself in the community. She actively participates in a wide range of activities, including tutoring, teaching, and fulfilling her roles as a mother and grandmother.
Reflecting on his high school years, Putnam recalls being extraordinarily active, joining every club and activity possible. Yet, as he has aged and his professional obligations have grown, particularly with his travel and work demands, sustaining those same levels of personal social engagement has become more challengi ...
Putnam's personal background and experience with social connections
Putnam's theoretical framework highlights the critical role of social connections in building trust within communities and institutions. These social ties are conceptualized through two distinct but crucial categories: bonding social capital and bridging social capital, both contributing uniquely to the fabric of society.
Putnam defines bonding social capital as links to people who share similar characteristics or identites. For example, he cites his own connections with other elderly, male, white, Jewish professors as an instance of bonding social capital.
Despite its benefits, such as providing emotional support, he also warns of its potential dangers. Bonding social capital, if not balanced, can reinforce exclusionary attitudes and in-group mentalities that segregate and divide communities.
On the other hand, Putnam focuses on the importance of developing bridging social capital, which constitutes the ties to those who are different from oneself across diverse dimensions like generation, gender, religion, or politics.
Putnam's theoretical framework of bonding and bridging social capital
Robert Putnam, a lifetime researcher of community dynamics in America, has sketched the broad historical arcs that define the country's social connectedness, political polarization, economic inequality, and cultural attitudes.
Putnam and his co-author Shailen Romney Garrett have mapped out a U-curve in social capital, observing how these components of societal health have experienced a decline, improvement, and then another plunge. From the early days of the 20th century into the 1960s, there was a noted improvement in measures of social connection, following an initial dip. However, since then, these same metrics have been on a downward trend that continues into contemporary times.
Putnam acknowledges a similar pattern in political polarization and economic inequality, noting they're not just American phenomena but rather present in various advanced industrial democracies. This implies that the current American experience of growing inequality over the last few decades is part of a broader, international trend.
Putnam believes that a foundational reason behind these troubling trends is a diminishing sense of moral obligation and common responsibility. This sense, he posits, is critical for maintaining a society where social capital thrives and polarization is minimized. Repairing these integral social bonds is a task that Putnam sees as daunting but essential.
Despite reflecting on his life's work with a note of disenchantment, realizing that his predictions and efforts have not been enough to alter history's trajectory, Putman exudes a resilient hope. He is convinced ...
Historical trends in social capital, political polarization, inequality, and cultural attitudes in America
Robert Putnam reflects on the current high levels of social isolation, loneliness, and distrust, warning of the wide-ranging negative impacts including a susceptibility to extremist ideologies and political movements.
Putnam observes a deepening and intensifying trend of social isolation over the last few decades. He notes that this crisis is now widely recognized, to the point where some places have even established government departments to address loneliness. This level of social fragmentation, he argues, is particularly detrimental to society because it makes isolated individuals, especially young men, more vulnerable to the allure of extremist ideologies, citing the historical example of lonely young German men who became eager recruits to the Nazi Party in the 1930s. Today, he points out, isolated young white men are similarly drawn to white nationalist violence.
Putnam suggests that the contemporary crisis of polarization and social disconnection is largely due to top-down influences, with political figures contributing significantly. He indicates that most Americans are not deeply preoccupied with politics in their daily lives, implyin ...
The contemporary crisis of social isolation and its consequences, including links to political extremism
Political scientist Robert Putnam investigates the issue of social isolation among youth and proposes innovative pathways to foster community through new institutions, building upon the legacy of historic organizations.
Putnam examines how institutions like the Boy Scouts and Boys Clubs combined fun activities with moral education and a shared purpose to construct community bonds. He asserts that similar organizations positively impacted democracy by instilling trust among individuals, which extended to trust in government and broader institutions. With this historical backdrop, Putnam believes that developing new, analogous institutions tailored to the modern day could mitigate the crisis of social isolation.
Referencing the "boy problem" of 1900, Putnam draws parallels to today’s challenges with social disconnection among youth. He highlights how organizations like Big Brothers, Boys Clubs (now renamed Boys and Girls Clubs), and Boy Scouts arose in the Progressive Era to tackle these widespread issues.
Putnam posits that for the 21st century, it’s crucial to conceive new versions of these organizations that appeal to today's youth. He suggests that such institutions could serve as a bulwark against the attractions of white nationalism and violence by marrying enjoyable activities with moral guidance.
Putnam's ideas for addressing the problem of social isolation through new community-building institutions
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