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BOWLING ALONE: The Collapse & Revival of American Community, by Robert D. Putnam. (Simon & Schuster, 2000, 544 pages) (Reviewed by Al Albrecht, MARP board member and Professor of Communication, emeritus, at Goshen College.)
IN BOWLING ALONE author Robert D. Putnam reported his findings on social change in the United States -- his "America" does not include South or Central America, Mexico or Canada.
As a careful social scientist, Putnam supports his assertions, generalization and conclusions by his own research as well as the research findings of many other persons and organizations. He divides U.S. culture into three dimensions: physical, human and social capital. Putnam, however, concerns himself primarily with "social capital," which is social science terminology and defines the term with "Just as a screwdriver (physical capital) or a college education (human capital) can increase productivity -- both individually and collectively - so, too, social contacts affect the productivity of individuals and groups."
To assess our social capital the author examined eight different dimensions of our society. For example, Putnam examined our political participation and found -- among other facts -- that over the last thirty-six years people's participation in presidential elections has declined by approximately one-fourth. In 1960, 62.8% of U.S. citizens voted for Kennedy or Nixon and, in 1996 only 48.9 voted for Clinton, Dole and Ross Perot.
Further, the author notes the decline in social capital as reflected in the decreasing amount of time we are spending in community organizations. Indeed, his research shows that "active involvement in local organizations fell by more than half in the last several decades of the twentieth century." Putnam finds that we have even lost social capital in our religious life and observes that increasingly Catholics are merely members in name while ever larger numbers of Protestants and Jews are giving up on their religion entirely.
The author also provides statistics and examples of a decline in "connectedness" in the work place, in informal social occasions. Pressures of time and money, mobility and urban sprawl, technology and the mass media are all among the factors that contribute to the loss. Putnam does, however, report that presently there is a new spirit of volunteerism.
This book, which I urge you to read, has a final chapter setting forth the author's program for rebuilding social capital among U.S. citizens. In spite of our serious condition, Putnam is bullish on our culture.
* Editor's note: As Anabaptist readers, this book can give incentive to building stronger connections within our congregations, between the generations, and with our neighbors and work colleagues.
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