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Session
9:
Adult, Social, Civic and Faith-based Networks
Monday,
October 31
Lecturers:
See the biographies for this session's
lecturers:
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Relevant
Links
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/saguaro
http://www.bowlingalone.com
http://www.bettertogether.org
http://www.cfsv.org
http://www.bettertogether.org
http://www.cfsv.org/communitysurvey
Major
Themes to Be Covered
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The
concept of "social capital": social networks, norms of
reciprocity, civic engagement.
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Trends
in social capital (or social connectivity) in American
communities over the 20th century and especially over
the last 30 years.
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Possible
explanations for the decline in social connectedness in
recent years. The possible role of work, urban sprawl,
two-career families, TV, immigration, generational change,
the internet.
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Consequences
of reduced social capital for youth and children, education,
crime, community and personal health, democracy.
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Historical
parallels for our current plight: The Gilded Age and the
Progressive Era. How we might go about revitalizing community
life in America today.
Students
Will Learn
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Why
social connections are so valuable both to individuals
and to communities.
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What
forms of social connection are useful for what purposes.
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What
factors encourage social connectedness and what factors
erode it.
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Lessons
from American history for aspiring social reformers
Required
Readings
Putnam
RD. 1993. The prosperous community: Social capital and public
life. The American Prospect, 13:35-42.
Putnam
RD. 2001. Civic Disengagement in Contemporary America. Government
and Opposition, 36:135-156.
McCormick
RL. 1990. Public Life in Industrial America, 1877-1917 (pp.
93-118). In: E Foner (Ed.), The New American History. Temple
University Press.
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