Beyond Tocqueville: civil society and the social capital debate in comparative perspective edited by Bob Edwards, Michael W. Foley, and Mario Diani.

Contributor(s):

Edwards, Bob (ed.)

Material type: Text

TextSeries: Civil society; historical and contemporary perspectivesPublication details: Hanover, NH University Press of New England c2001.Description: xi+340 p., 23 cmISBN:

1584651253

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

Summary: Recent discussion about the role of civil society in democratic governance around the world and the decline of social capital in the US has raised pressing theoretical and empirical questions about the character of contemporary societies and the social and institutional correlates of sound and dynamic democracies. This debate has reached a North American and European audience that extends well beyond academia. The predominant refrain in the debate, following Alexis de Tocqueville's 160-year-old analysis of democracy in America, attaches tremendous importance to the role of voluntary associations in contemporary democracies. Participation in such groups is said to produce social capital, often linked to high levels of social trust. Social capital in turn is conceived as a crucial national resource for promoting collective action for the common good. Beyond Tocqueville presents 21 varied essays on how civic engagement and political and economic cooperation are generated in contemporary societies, linking theoretical discourse with public policy and actual behaviors

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Book	Ahmedabad	306 B3 (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available		161897

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Includes bibliographical references (p. 293-317) and index.

Recent discussion about the role of civil society in democratic governance around the world and the decline of social capital in the US has raised pressing theoretical and empirical questions about the character of contemporary societies and the social and institutional correlates of sound and dynamic democracies. This debate has reached a North American and European audience that extends well beyond academia. The predominant refrain in the debate, following Alexis de Tocqueville's 160-year-old analysis of democracy in America, attaches tremendous importance to the role of voluntary associations in contemporary democracies. Participation in such groups is said to produce social capital, often linked to high levels of social trust. Social capital in turn is conceived as a crucial national resource for promoting collective action for the common good. Beyond Tocqueville presents 21 varied essays on how civic engagement and political and economic cooperation are generated in contemporary societies, linking theoretical discourse with public policy and actual behaviors

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