Social Capital - by Scott L McLean & David A Schultz & Manfred B Steger

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Social Capital is an important crtique that should stimulate further analysis and dicussion of what constitutes community."
-- New Political Science
"The reader emerges with a good sense of the gaps in Putnam's work- or more appropriately in the context of this book, the way in which the 'feelgood' factor of Putnam's work deserves critical analysis."
--Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
This collection tackles the theme of isolation and the breakdown of mediating social institutions. It is, in part, a response to Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone as well as an attempt to create a broader idea of civil society. These original essays contribute to the examination of democratic theory and practice, exploring one of the most popular causes of this decline in public trust--social capital.
These critical essays are written by specialists and scholars in American politics and American political thought. They utilize diverse methodologies--empirical and philosophical--and multiple perspectives to examine critically the social capital discourse and how it is related to political participation, civic engagement, and American democracy.

Review Quotes

"This collection provides the most insightful and influential analyses from the last two decades showing how violence against women and children is all too-well integrated into global politics and economics."
-Sandra Harding, editor of "The Feminist Standpoint Theory Reader"

"This is an extraordinary interdisciplinary volume. It is comprehensive both in terms of the subjects that it includes as well as the type of articles, essays and the range of contributors. Gender Violence makes a very significant contribution to the literature on violence against women."
-Beth Richie, author of "Compelled to Crime: The Gender Entrapment of Battered, Black Women"