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POLI 475, Fall 2008

Social Capital in Comparative Perspective

Prof. Dietlind Stolle
Leacock 514 Telephone: 398 4811 Fax: 398 1770 Web Site: http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/programs/polisci/faculty/dstolle/dshome Tue/Thu 10.05-11.25am in ARTS 145 Course
Office: Hours: Office Hours: TA info

Thu 2.30-4pm or by appointment, contact please use webCT mail Naomi Lightman, email: naomi.lightman@gmail.com

Synopsis of the course content: In recent years an exciting, interdisciplinary, and rapidly growing body of research has suggested that civil society and social relations themselves have powerful practical effects in many disparate political and economic arenas. This research agenda centers on concepts such as social capital and civil society, and has implications for such fields as social welfare, economic progress in developing countries, and the effectiveness of democratic government in modern societies. This course will focus on social capital in the broadest sense. What is social capital and why is it important? How can we measure and observe it? How do civic values and social ties resolve collective action problems? How can we produce and facilitate or destroy our valuable societal resources? How can we distinguish different forms of social capital that exist in a variety of cultures? How has the engagement of citizens in public life changed over the last decades? This course will explore this blossoming research agenda with a focus on the advanced industrialized democracies and there will be some comparisons integrating developing countries as well. Course Goal: The course is designed to introduce participants to an emerging and multifaceted research arena in political science and other related disciplines such as sociology, economics, anthropology, social work, and others. It will enable students to understand and evaluate the research related to the concept of social capital. Students will also learn how to think about and evaluate social science research more generally, and they will be encouraged to develop their own research ideas. In addition, students will be able to discuss, propose and examine public policy that might facilitate or hinder the development of social capital or civic engagement.

Requirements:
Readings: Everyone is expected to read and reflect on all required readings prior to class. It is clear that completing the lions share of all assigned reading in a timely fashion is a necessary prerequisite for satisfactory completion of the course. I suggest reading the assigned pieces with four main questions in mind, as we will return to them constantly in class: 1) What is the authors argument or theory, and how does it compare to or improve alternative theories that might be proposed or have been proposed by others? It often helps to note down what the author wants to explain and the causes and explanatory factors the author thinks are important. Such information on

2 every article/book will help you to prepare for successful class participation and for better understanding of the literature (as well for the exams and papers). 2) What evidence does the author provide, and how convincing is it? In particular, we will learn in this course to identify the research design of the authors, and we will learn how to examine the design critically. Often we will ask whether alternative theories were tested. 3) How could the research be improved? A mere critique of the readings is only one side of useful criticism; learning how to improve ones and others research is really the ultimate goal. And 4) Think about the public policy implications of the presented work. How can theoretical insights be transferred into useful policy? What are the complications in this process? Which type of research is necessary in order to give the best policy recommendations? Readings for the course include the following books, which are available at the University bookstore or can be bought online. Readings not found in these books are available as a course reader at Eastman (available in the McGill bookstore). Robert Putnam. (1993). Making Democracy Work. Princeton University Press. Robert Putnam. (2000). Bowling Alone. Simon and Schuster Readings marked by ** are available in the course reader.

Class participation: This is a lecture course, but we will always engage in class discussions as well, especially if the class stays fairly small. It is thus important that you are prepared and actively participate early on in the course. Volunteered and thoughtful contributions to class discussion can only help, not hurt your grade. Expect to be called upon in class at times. There is also a possibility for you to engage in discussions about the course material on webCT. Paper and Exam Options: Three options are available and involve variations on taking the midterm examination and/or writing a research paper -- everyone must write the three-hour final examination and complete other assignments (see below as well). Option I: 35% for the midterm exam, 55% for the final exam. Option two: 35% for the paper, 55% for the final exam. Option three: 15% for the midterm exam, 30% for the paper, 45% for the final. You do not need to specify the particular option that you will follow. Clearly, if you do not sit the midterm examination, it will be presumed that you will be completing the second option. (A J will be reported if you do neither.) Understand as well, that once you sit the midterm, you are restricted to Options one and three. Research Paper: The purpose of the research paper is to enable each student to apply the approaches we learned during the class to some theoretical or practical problem of special concern to him or her. Suggestions for topics will be discussed in class, on webCT or in the office hours. Important: The topic of the research paper and bibliography must be cleared in advance, and following that a two paged prospectus handed in. You can hand the prospectus in any time, but the absolute latest date is November 4 in class. Details of the Paper Process: 1. You must clear your topic IN PERSON with me or the Teaching Assistant before submitting your outline and essay. Among other things, this will ensure that the topic is manageable, wellfocused and that there is sufficient research material available. (You may be encouraged to report back to me or the Teaching Assistant to discuss the progress you are making in your efforts.) 2. For the sake of maximum clarity, understand that topics sent by e-mail will not be considered.

3 3. You should regard your topic as being cleared only when I (or the Teaching Assistant) explicitly tell you so and record your name. 4. Your one-paged paper prospectus (see next point) will only be accepted after you clear your topic. 5. A two-page (hardcopy) prospectus is due TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, explaining your topic and research approach, along with a preliminary bibliography. Late outlines will be penalized with a deduction of 1 mark off the final paper grade (marked out of a hundred) per 24-hour period late. At the same time, the outlines handed in by Tuesday, October 28 will earn a bonus of four marks. 6. The outlines will neither be graded nor handed back. You should feel free, however, to consult with us if you would like further feedback on your outline. 7. The paper, itself, is due MONDAY, DECEMBER 8. You must hand in a hardcopy version to Leacock 414 BEFORE 4pm and as well an electronic version (e-mailed through myCourses) by that date. Late papers will be penalized 2 marks off per 24-hour period late. In case the point is not already clear: if your topic has not been cleared, your paper will not be accepted, regardless of whether you hand in an outline and bibliography, and a J will be reported (assuming you have not taken the midterm exam). Research Paper length: If you choose to write a research paper, it must be 15-20 pages, doublespaced. Students are permitted--indeed encouraged--to work on their research papers in pairs (2025 pages required), or maximum in groups of three (25-30 pages). Midterm Exam: There will be a Midterm exam in the evening of October 21, 6.05pm-7.25pm in Leacock 26. Final Exam: Everyone takes the Final exam, which is scheduled by the University in the exam period in December. Two Small Assignments: In addition to the above, there are two small assignments due for everyone in this class, which will be explained in detail during lectures. First assignment: A hard-copy of your first assignment is due on September 18 in class and involves a short analysis of Putnams Making Democracy Work (worth 5% of your grade). Absolutely no late assignments will be accepted. Second assignment: The second assignment is a one-paged policy paper on a topic of your choice. A list of topics and sign-ups will be provided on webCT, and the paper will be posted there visible for everyone. In this paper you will describe how public policy can/should take the research we discuss into account (5% of your grade). You will choose a topic as it relates to the course, however, the absolute latest policy paper can be handed in before lecture on November 20. The policy papers are due BEFORE the class that deals with your topic (on webCT). SUMMARY IMPORTANT COURSE DATES September 18: First assignment on Putnam due in class October 21 at 6.05-7.25pm: Midterm in the Evening November 4: Latest Date for Paper Prospectus Due in Class December 8: Final Paper Due in Leacock 414 and webCT Throughout the course: One policy paper due throughout the course. Last possible paper can be handed in by November 20.

4 Detailed Course Outline

PART I: What is Social Capital

September 2: Course Introduction
no reading

September 4: Setting the Stage: CommunityVirtue or Nostalgia?

We watch parts of the Movie Pleasantville ** Alan Ehrenhalt, The Lost City (Basic Books, 1995), pp. 7-33 (ch 1) and 253-281 (ch 12&13) (light reading)

September 9: How to Study Comparatively

(Methodological Issues)

** David Collier, The Comparative Method, in Ada W. Finifter, ed., Political Science: The State of the Discipline II (Washington, DC: American Political Science Association, 1993), pp. 105-119 ** Gary King, Robert Keohane, and Sidney Verba, Designing Social Inquiry: Scientific Inference in Qualitative Research (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1994), pp. 3-33

September 11: Approaches in Political Culture Research

** Clifford Geertz: Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture. In Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books, pp. 3-30. ** Almond, Gabriel and Sidney Verba, "An Approach to Political Culture", ch. 1, The Civic Culture, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1963, pp. 1-44. ** Elkins, David J. and Richard E.B. Simeon, "A Cause in Search of Its Effect, or What Does Political Culture Explain?" in Comparative Politics, vol. 11, no 2, 1979, p. 127-145.

September 16: Social CapitalA new approach in Political Culture Research? (note: reading heavy week)
** Lin, Nan. 2001. Social Capital : Capital Captured through Social Relations. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 2: p. 19-28. ** David Halpern. 2005. Introduction: Concepts, History and Measurement, in Social Capital. Malden: Policy Press, pp. 1-40. ** Michael Woolcock, The Place of Social Capital in Understanding Social and Economic Outcomes, Isuma: Canadian Journal of Policy Research (Spring 2001): 11-16.

Recommended: ** Coleman, J. 1994. Social Capital, in The Foundation of Social Theory, Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, pp. 300-321.
Recommended ** Mark R. Warren, J. Phillip Thompson, and Susan Saegert, The Role of Social Capital in Combating Poverty, in Social Capital and Poor Communities, Susan Saegert, J. Phillip Thompson, and Mark R. Warren, eds. (Russell Sage, 2002), pp. 1-28.

5 September 18: Putnams Social Capital Approach

Robert Putnam. 1993. Making Democracy Work. Chapters 1, 3 and 4.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE September 23: Measurements of Social Capital: The Role of Trust
**Uslaner, Eric. (2002). Strategic Trust and Moralistic Trust, chapter 2 in The Moral Foundations of Trust. Cambridge University Press, pp. 14-50. ** Hardin, R. 1993. The Street-Level Epistemology of Trust, in Politics and Society, 21 pp. 505-529.

September 25: Measurements of Social Capital: Types of Networks

** Granovetter, M. S. 1973. The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology 78, 1360-1380. Robert Putnam. 2000. Bowling Alone. Simon and Schuster: chapter 1, p. 15-28. ** Levi, M. 1996. "Social and Unsocial Capital: A Review Essay of Robert Putnams Making Democracy Work." Politics and Society 24, 45-55.

September 30: Who is Included? The Spread of Social Capital

** Schlozman, K., Verba, S. and Brady, H. 1999. Civic Participation and the Equality Problem, in Skocpol T. and Fiorina P. M. Civic Engagement in American Democracy. N.Y: Russell Sage Foundation. pp.427-459. ** Levinson, Meira. The Civic Achievement Gap Circle Working Paper 51, January 2007, pp. 1-14. Look at the graphs and understand main findings** Stuart Soroka, Richard Johnston, and Keith Banting. 2006. Ties that Bind? Social Cohesion and Diversity in Canada, in Belonging? Diversity, Recognition and Shared Citizenship in Canada, Institute for Research on Public Policy, pp. 1-40.

PART II: So, why do we care? Consequences of Social Capital and its Alleged Demise in Western Democracies
October 2: Political Consequences
Putnam, R. 2000. Bowling Alone. Section IV: So What? Chapters 16-18, 20-22.

October 7: Economic Consequences

** Knack, S. and Keefer, P. 1997. Does Social Capital Have An Economic Payoff? A Cross-Country Investigation, in Quarterly Journal of Economics. pp.1251-1288 Robert Putnam. 2000. Bowling Alone. Simon and Schuster: chapter 19.

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** Alejandro Portes and Patricia Landolt. 2000. Social Capital: Promise and Pitfalls of its Role in Development, Journal of Latin American Studies 32: 529-547.

October 9: Is there a Decline?

Putnam, R. D. 2000. Bowling Alone, section II (pages 31-180 with special focus on chapters 2-4, 6, 8.

October 14: Critique of the Decline Thesis

** Vivien Lowndes. 2000, Women and Social Capital: A Comment on Halls Social Capital in Britain, British Journal of Political Science, 30(3), 533-537. ** Rothstein, Bo. 2001. Social Capital in the Social Democratic Welfare State Politics & Society, June 2001, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 207-242. ** Russell Dalton. 2007. Chapter 4 Bowling Alone or Protesting with a Group, from The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation is Reshaping American Politics. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2007, pp. 53-79. Get main idea Putnam, R. D. 2000. Bowling Alone, section II (chapter 9).

October 16: New Measurements of Social Capital? No reading; Brainstorming on webCT; Web-survey; Exam Prep

October 21: No class, however: MIDTERM EXAM at 6.05-7.25pm in Leacock 26

PART III Roots and Causes of Social Capital

October 23: Roots and causes: The Role of Voluntary Associations and Civic Traditions:
Putnam, R. 1993. Making Democracy Work, chapters 5 and 6.

October 28: Roots and causes: Social Capital from above or the role of Political Institutions.
** Sidney Tarrow. 1996. Making Social Science Work Across Space and Time, American Political Science Review, 90 (June 1996): 389-97. Choose one: ** Berman, Sheri. 1997. Civil Society and the Collapse of the Weimar Republic, World Politics 49.3: pp. 401-429 OR ** Howard, Marc. The Weakness of Post-Communist Civil Society, Journal of Democracy (Vol. 13, #1, 2002), pp.157-169

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** Shankar Vedantam, One Thing We Can't Build Alone in Iraq, Washington Post (October 29, 2007).

October 30: Roots and Causes: Which types of Institutions?

** Bo Rothstein and Dietlind Stolle. Political institutions and generalized trust, in D. Castiglione, J.W. Van Deth & G. Wolleb (eds.) The Handbook of Social Capital. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 273-302. ** Mayoux, Linda. 2002. Tackling the Down Side: Social Capital, Women's Empowerment and Micro-Finance in Cameroon. Development and Change 32 (3): 435-464.

November 4: Space, Sprawl and the new Urbanism I Latest Date for Paper prospectus due in class Movie in class: Subdivided: Isolation and Community in America, a documentary film by Dean Terry.
** M. P. Baumgartner. 1988. Chapter 4: The Moral Order of Friendships and Neighborhoods. In The Moral Order of a Suburb (pp. 72-100) Two short empirical studies: ** Kevin Leyden. 2003. Social Capital and the Built Environment: the Importance of Walkable Neighborhoods, American Journal of Public Health Vol 93, No. 9, 1546-1551. ** Freeman, Lance. 2001. The Effects of Sprawl on Neighborhood Social Ties: An Explanatory Analysis, Journal of the American Planning Association, 67 (1): 69-77.

November 6: Space, Sprawl and the new Urbanism II

Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone, chap. 12. ** Jane Jacobs. 1961. The uses of sidewalks: contact, in The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House. Chapter 3, pp. 55-73 ** Sabrina Tavernise and Karim Hilmi, In Mixed Slice of Baghdad, Old Bonds Defy War, New York Times (November 13, 2007) ** Blog: Youth Soccer, Social Capital and Neighborhoods, by Paul Adasiak

November 11: The generational argument: Young peoplethe problem or the solution?
Get the main points: Putnam, R. D. 2000. Bowling Alone, section II (chapters 10, 13 &14). **Ted Halstead, 1999. "A Politics for Gen-X," Atlantic Monthly. **Orlowski, Alexander P. Television Consumption and Civic Engagement Among 15-25 Year Olds CIRCLE Fact Sheet, December 2007, pp. 1-17.

8 November 13: The INTERNET and Social Capital

** Fischer, Claude S. Technology and Community: Historical Complexities. Sociological Inquiry vol. 67 no.1 Winter 1997: 113-118. ** Tapscott, Don, and Anthony D. Williams (2006). The Perfect Storm, in Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything, chapter 2 (pp. 34-64) **Apply to effects on social capital: Van Alstyne, Marshall and Erik Brynjolfsson, 1996. Widening Access and Narrowing Focus: Could the Internet Balkanize Science? Science 274, Nov. 29, pp. 1479-1480. **Ellison, Nicole B., Charles Steinfield, and Cliff Lampe. 2007. The Benefits of Facebook Friends: Social Capital and College Students Use of Online Social Network Sites, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12: 1143-1168.

November 18: The Puzzle of Diversity

** Robert D. Putnam, E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the 21st Century: The 2006 Johan Skytte Prize Lecture Scandinavian Political Studies, 30 (June 2007): 137-174. ** Robert Wuthnow. 1999. The Culture of Discontent: Democratic Liberalism and the challenge of diversity in late twentieth century America, in Diversity and Its Discontents, Neil J. Smelser and Jeffrey C. Alexander, eds. Pp. 19-35. **Alex Kotlowitz. 2007. Our Town, by in New York Times.

November 20: The Puzzle Revisited?

** Dietlind Stolle, Stuart Soroka and Richard Johnston. 2008. When Does Diversity Erode Trust? Neighborhood Diversity, Interpersonal Trust and the Mediating Effect of Social Interactions, in Political Studies, vol 56, pages 57-74. ** Marc Hooghe, Tim Reeskens and Dietlind Stolle. 2008. Ethnic Diversity and Generalized Trust in Europe. A Cross-National Multi-level Study, in Comparative Political Studies. In press.

November 25: The Role of Religion

** Wuthnow, R. 1999. Mobilizing Civic Engagement: The Changing Impact of Religious Involvement, in Skocpol T. and Fiorina P. M. Civic Engagement in American Democracy. N.Y: Russell Sage Foundation. Pp. 332-363. ** Hart, de J. 2001. Religion and Volunteering in the Netherlands, in Dekker, P and Uslaner, E. M. 2001. Social Capital and Participation in Everyday Life. N.Y.: Routledge. pp.88-103. ** Frederick Harris. 2003. Ties That Bind and Flourish: Religion as Social Capital in African American Politics and Society, in Religion and Social Capital by Corwin Smidt; Baylor University Press, pp. 121-138.

November 27: Outlook??? What have we forgotten?

Reading posted on webCT