Diverse Communities The Problem with Social Capital
Diverse Communities: The Problem with Social Capital by Barbara Arneil, published by Cambridge University Press on September 14, 2006, offers a critical examination of Robert Putnam’s social capital thesis. This 280-page book explores the perspectives of women and cultural minorities in America over the last century, challenging the notion of idyllic past communities and reframing the current decline in participation as a transformation rather than a deterioration.
In this edition, Arneil delves into the complexities of American civil society, arguing that significant changes over the past fifty years stem from powerful economic, social, and cultural forces. These shifts, while contributing to division and distrust, have also advanced justice for women and cultural minorities. The book concludes by outlining principles of justice that could guide the governance of diverse communities in the twenty-first century, providing a nuanced understanding of social dynamics and community engagement.
Official synopsis Publisher
Diverse Communities is a critique of Robert Putnam’s social capital thesis, re-examined from the perspective of women and cultural minorities in America over the last century. Barbara Arneil argues that the idyllic communities of the past were less positive than Putnam envisions and that the current ‘collapse’ in participation is better understood as change rather than decline. Arneil suggests that the changes in American civil society in the last half century are not so much the result of generational change or television as the unleashing of powerful economic, social and cultural forces that, despite leading to division and distrust within American society, also contributed to greater justice for women and cultural minorities. She concludes by proposing that the lessons learned from this fuller history of American civil society provide the normative foundation to enumerate the principles of justice by which diverse communities might be governed in the twenty-first century.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Diverse Communities The Problem with Social Capital” about?
Who is the author of “Diverse Communities The Problem with Social Capital”?
When was “Diverse Communities The Problem with Social Capital” published?
What is the ISBN for “Diverse Communities The Problem with Social Capital”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
