Making democracy work?: civic culture, social capital and voluntary associations in New Zealand
Loading...
Files
Date
2003
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Abstract
This thesis draws a distinction between social capital's 'public' and 'private' forms, arguing that the former is a concept relating primarily to political culture. Using data drawn from two major New Zealand surveys, the study investigates the neo-Tocquevillian proposition that voluntary associations play an important part in making democracy work, by installing in their members the orientations and capacities congruent with a civic culture. The study also explores alternative theories, in particular Ronald Inglehart's theory of postmaterialism. Overall, the emphasis placed by neo-Tocquevillians on voluntary associations' internal effects finds mixed support in the New Zealand data. While voluntary associations do seem to play a role in installing political competence, their usefulness as agents of democratic socialisation is limited, or even nonexistent.
Description
Keywords
Democracy, Social capital, Voluntarism