Knowra Robert D. Putnam Robert D. Putnam Robert D. Putnam is an American political scientist whose research examines social capital, civic engagement, and the performance of democratic institutions.
Social capital : Resources and advantages people gain through relationships, networks, and shared norms. Putnam made this concept central to explaining how civic networks support cooperation.
Making Democracy Work : A 1993 book by Robert D. Putnam, Robert Leonardi, and Raffaella Y. Nanetti comparing regional governments in Italy. It develops Putnam’s argument that civic traditions help explain differences in institutional performance.
Social network : A pattern of relationships connecting people, groups, or organizations. Networks are the structural ties through which Putnam’s social capital can operate.
Social isolation : A condition in which people have few or weak connections to others. It is a possible consequence of declining participation, but differs from the broader measure of social capital.
Robert Leonardi : An Italian political scientist who collaborated with Robert D. Putnam on research into regional government in Italy. Their comparative study supplied the evidence behind Making Democracy Work.
Civic engagement : Participation in public life through activities such as voting, volunteering, and community organizations. Putnam measures civic life through the forms of participation his research tracks.
Bowling Alone : A 2000 book by Robert D. Putnam arguing that social connectedness and civic participation declined in the United States. It applies his social-capital framework to changes in American associational life.
Generalized reciprocity : A norm of helping others without expecting an immediate return from the same person. Putnam treats reciprocal norms as a way civic communities sustain cooperation.
Rational choice theory : An approach that explains choices through individuals’ preferences, constraints, and expected outcomes. It offers an individual-level account that contrasts with Putnam’s emphasis on civic networks and norms.
Raffaella Y. Nanetti : An Italian political scientist who coauthored research on regional institutions and civic traditions in Italy. She coauthored Putnam’s study of civic communities and institutional performance.
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