Bowling Alone Summary

Bowling Alone examines the decline of social connection and civic participation in the United States during the second half of the twentieth century. Putnam uses the image of people bowling individually rather than joining bowling leagues to describe a wider social problem: people may continue doing activities, but they increasingly do them without lasting community relationships. He argues that declining participation in neighbourhood groups, religious bodies, trade unions, voluntary organizations and civic associations weakens “social capital”-the networks of trust, cooperation and mutual responsibility that help communities and democracies function.

• Social capital means useful human connections: Relationships create trust, information, support and cooperation.
• Community participation has declined: Fewer people regularly join many traditional civic and voluntary organizations.
• The title is symbolic: People were still bowling, but fewer were participating in organized leagues.
• Trust supports democracy: Citizens cooperate more easily when they believe others will behave honestly.
• Associations teach civic habits: Clubs and community organizations teach discussion, leadership and compromise.
• Television contributed to isolation: Putnam argues that private entertainment reduced time spent in communal activity.
• Urban sprawl weakened neighbourhood ties: Long travel distances and car-dependent living reduced local interaction.
• Time and financial pressure matter: Busy work schedules leave less time for volunteering and community involvement.
• Bonding and bridging are different: Bonding connects similar people, while bridging connects people across social divisions.
• Important quotation: “Social capital may turn out to be a prerequisite for…effective computer-mediated communication.” Online networks work better when some trust already exists.