Bowling Alone | Themes

Bowling Alone Themes

Social Capital

One of the major themes in Bowling Alone is social capital. Putnam states that the term has been coined to refer to the way social bonds make people's lives more productive. This includes aspects such as fellowship, social interaction, sympathy, and social support. It has also been used to refer to social networks, which indicate that it is often who one knows and not what one knows when searching for a job or fulfilling other needs. Social capital for Putnam is both a private good and a public good, benefiting individuals, communities, and nations.

Putnam argues that social capital has declined in the second half of the twentieth century. People are engaging less in society and participating less in civic affairs. Social networks and acts such as volunteering, giving money, and trusting others have decreased. He believes that this decline is due to a range of factors, including generational succession,...
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