Dr. Val FarmerDr.Val | |||
Rural Mental Health & Family Relationships | |||
Where Have All The Volunteers Gone?April 7, 1997 How is your organization doing? Are you struggling to keep membership and participation? Do you have enough willing hands to share the work? If not, don't feel alone. The decline of organizational participation. Sociologist Robert Putnam, in a classic 1995 article, "Bowling Alone," has documented the decline of volunteerism, civic engagement, and affiliation with social institutions in the United States. Here are some disturbing trends.
Among the college educated, total association membership declined 26 percent. Among high school graduates, the number fell 32 percent. For those who didn't finish high school, the number dropped 25 percent. At all educational and social levels, counting all sorts of group memberships, the number of association memberships has fallen by a fourth over the past quarter of a century. This has happened even though more Americans are more highly educated and middle-aged - factors that favor social involvement. Membership in professional societies has risen but at rates less than one would expect. America still ranks high worldwide. However the decline is greater than in any other country. If the trend continues, within twenty-five years the United States will fall to the midpoint between countries of the world. Why does it matter? Members of associations are much more likely than nonmembers to engage in polities, to spend time with neighbors and to express social trust. Putnam found that in a study of 35 countries, the greater the participation in associations, the more trusting are the citizens. Putnam summarizes research showing that in fields like education, urban poverty, unemployment, control of crime and drug abuse and even health, communities do better when people participate in voluntary associations. Social networks help with job placement and economic collaboration. In his own research of 20 Italian regions, Putnam found more effective government in communities where citizens participated in a variety of community organizations. He also found better schools, faster economic development and lower came. When community members joined together; the resulting networks, norms and social trust meant greater coordination and cooperation. Putnam says, "It is about giving back, reciprocity and trust. Instead of 'I', the 'we' becomes important." The trend away from a 50s style small town, middle class civic life with its closely knit social, economic and political ties is not all bad. The loosening of tight social ties has contributed to the decline of intolerance and discrimination. The "in" crowd and clubby associations can lead to corruption and "back room" politics. Why is this happening? Here are a few explanations.
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