Bowling Alone Is Bad Unless Your Bowling Team Kills People
I’ve been seeing a number of papers popping up recently exploring the dark side of "social capital" — the benefit of community level interaction that political scientist Robert Putnam famously argues in his book Bowling Alone, is necessary for sustaining a strong democracy. In Bowling for Fascism: Social Capital and the Rise of the Nazi ...
I've been seeing a number of papers popping up recently exploring the dark side of "social capital" -- the benefit of community level interaction that political scientist Robert Putnam famously argues in his book Bowling Alone, is necessary for sustaining a strong democracy.
In Bowling for Fascism: Social Capital and the Rise of the Nazi Party in Weimar Germany, 1919-33, Shanker Satyanath, Nico Voigtlaender and Hans-Joachim Voth find that "dense networks of civic associations such as bowling clubs, animal breeder associations, or choirs facilitated the rise of the Nazi Party." (Via Cherokee Gothic)
In They Can't Shoot Everyone: Italians, Social Capital, and Organized Crime in the Chicago Outfit, Louis Corsino writes that the Italian Mafia in Chicago "acquired a social capital advantage because they could draw upon the closed networks in the Italian community and, at the same time, envision a range of illegal opportunities because they occupied a series of "structural holes."
I’ve been seeing a number of papers popping up recently exploring the dark side of "social capital" — the benefit of community level interaction that political scientist Robert Putnam famously argues in his book Bowling Alone, is necessary for sustaining a strong democracy.
In Bowling for Fascism: Social Capital and the Rise of the Nazi Party in Weimar Germany, 1919-33, Shanker Satyanath, Nico Voigtlaender and Hans-Joachim Voth find that "dense networks of civic associations such as bowling clubs, animal breeder associations, or choirs facilitated the rise of the Nazi Party." (Via Cherokee Gothic)
In They Can’t Shoot Everyone: Italians, Social Capital, and Organized Crime in the Chicago Outfit, Louis Corsino writes that the Italian Mafia in Chicago "acquired a social capital advantage because they could draw upon the closed networks in the Italian community and, at the same time, envision a range of illegal opportunities because they occupied a series of "structural holes."
And in Social Capital and Terrorism, Scott Helfstein writes that "higher stocks of social capital positively correlate with the number of terrorist groups, but the average attack activity of those groups increase as measures of social capital decline."
It’s not a particularly new observation to say that organizations like the Mob or the Klan can sometimes fulfill the need for social solidarity and community involvement as effectively as bowling clubs or the Rotary Club. But it’s certainly worth remembering that community involvement is only as good as the community one is involved with.
Previously: Are we still ‘bowling alone’ on Facebook?
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy
Lessons for the Next War
Twelve experts weigh in on how to prevent, deter, and—if necessary—fight the next conflict.
It’s High Time to Prepare for Russia’s Collapse
Not planning for the possibility of disintegration betrays a dangerous lack of imagination.
Turkey Is Sending Cold War-Era Cluster Bombs to Ukraine
The artillery-fired cluster munitions could be lethal to Russian troops—and Ukrainian civilians.
Congrats, You’re a Member of Congress. Now Listen Up.
Some brief foreign-policy advice for the newest members of the U.S. legislature.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
