Social Capital and Associations in European Democracies: A Comparative Analysis

by Maloney; William A.

• ISBN13: 9780415410533
• ISBN10: 0415410533
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-12-06
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This unique book offers an empirical assessment of how social and political involvement relates to theories of citizenship and democracy, providing a detailed comparative assessment of the potential that voluntary organizations offer citizens for social and political participation in several European countries. The coherent chapters, written by leading European researchers, examine the participatory opportunities offered by a wide and diverse variety of voluntary associations and provides a comparative perspective on the role, structure and functions of associations in six medium-sized European cities Aalborg (Denmark), Aberdeen (UK), Bern (Switzerland), Enschede (the Netherlands), Mannheim (Germany) and Sabadell (Spain). This book has a companion volume entitled Citizenship and Involvement in European Democraciesedited by Jan van Deth, José Ramón Montero and Anders Westholm (Routledge, 2006). Both volumes will be of great interest to students and researchers of European politics, comparative politics and sociology.

Table of Contents

Notes on contributors	ix
Editors' acknowledgements	xv
Introduction	1
1 Associations, participation and democracy	3
WILLIAM A. MALONEY AND SIGRID ROßTEUTSCHER
PART I Mapping the associational universe	17
2 Organizations in context: politics and culture shaping associational life	19
JOAN FONT, PETER GEURTS, WILLIAM A. MALONEY AND MARINA BERTON
3 The associational universe in Europe: size and participation	39
WILLIAM A. MALONEY AND SIGRID ROßTEUTSCHER
4 Assessing the significance of associational concerns: leisure, politics and markets	52
WILLIAM A. MALONEY AND SIGRID ROßTEUTSCHER
PART II The role, structure and functions of associations	79
5 The spectrum of associational activities: from self-help to lobbying	81
HERMAN LELIEVELDT, JAVIER ASTUDILLO AND LINDA STEVENSON
6 The internal structure of associations	96
LARS TORPE AND MARIONA FERRER-FONS
7 Organizational resources: personnel and finances	118
HANSPETER KRIESI
8 Networking among voluntary associations: segmented or integrated?	153
SONJA ZMERLI AND KEN NEWTON
9 The political role of associations	175
HERMAN LELIEVELDT AND MANUELA CAIANI
PART III Examining context: generations, community size and culture	193
10 Age and generation: patterns of associational fertility and survival	195
SIGRID ROßTEUTSCHER, LUCIA NIEDINA AND PER SELLE
11 City size and the nature of associational ecologies	224
SIMONE BAGLIONI, BAS DENTERS, LAURA MORALES AND ANGELIKA VETTER
12 The political and cultural context of associational life	244
HANSPETER KRIESI, LAURA MORALES AND MELANIE WALTER-ROGG
Conclusion	269
13 The prospects of civil society and democratic governance	271
WILLIAM A. MALONEY AND SIGRID ROßTEUTSCHER
Bibliography	286
Index	301