This post is a summary of two reports. The first with the title of, "Civil engagement and particularized trust." Published at http://www.bsos.umd.edu/. Written by Eric M. Uslaner, University of Maryland and Richard S. Conley, University of Florida. The second with the title above, published at http://www.luc.edu/.
More than 150 years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859, French political thinker, best known for his book, "Democracy in America", that today is considered an early work of political science), found that Americans always came together to make their lives better. More recently Robert Putnam (American political science and profesor of public policy at Harvard University) has extolled the benefits of joining, he said, "participation in civic organization inculcates skills of cooperation as well as a sense of shared responsibility for collective endeavors." Putnam and other exponents of social capital argue that communities and nations with high levels of civic engagement are more trusting, happier and prosperous. Social capital, as Putnam sees it, is an interlocking and mutually reinforcing set of values, norms of behavior, civic engagement and cooperative behavior that constitute a virtuous circle. Together these components lead people to cooperate with each other and to produce a better society. The values and social connections underlying social capital help build bridges across diverse groups. When people interact with each other, they can work together to solve common problems. To gain the benefits of social capital, people do not have to work hard in civic associations. All sorts of social connections will do the job, including informal social ties and apolitical groups. We argue that this argument misses an important dynamic of social interaction. The social capital is important because it leads to cooperation among strangers. The confidence in others is an essential part of social capital leading to widespread cooperation.
Democracy thrives when individuals are engaged in matters and participate in public life. The building blocks of daily life; schools, workplaces, houses of worship, businesses, roads, places of entertainment and government buildings are maintained by fellow citizens. It is important to appreciate where these resources come from and how they are sustained. Democracy means rule of many. It invites members of the community to participate in the decisions that affect them. A healthy democracy allows for debate and invite everyone into the process of reaching conclusions about policies and investments. Democracy gives people a voice in public matters, if they take advantage of it. Citizens committed to democracy are prompted to uphold the values that benefits the common good. They are motivated by principles of fairness and they believe in equal opportunity for all. Democracy is dependent upon the willingness of citizens to get involved and informed about public matters.
How can people participate in public life?
- Reading the newspapers and voting.
- Volunteering in projects.
- Sending emails to politicians, organizations and media.
- Participating in demonstrations or local council meetings.
- Visiting government offices.
- Talking about public policies.
- Donating ( money, time, advice, etc )
