Social Capital And Associations In European Democracies

Description:
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 Democracies' edited by Jan van Deth, Jose Ramon 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:
Introduction 1 Associations, Participation And Democracy William A. Maloney and Sigrid Rossteutscher PART I: Mapping the Associational Universe 2 Organizations in Context: Politics and Culture Shaping Associational Life Joan Font, Peter Geurts, William A. Maloney and Marina Berton 3 The Associational Universe In Europe: Size And Participation William A. Maloney and Sigrid Rossteutscher 4 Assessing the Significance of Associational Concerns: Leisure, Politics and Markets William A. Maloney and Sigrid Rossteutscher PART II: The Role, Structure and Functions of Associations 5 The Spectrum of Associational Activities: From Self-Help to Lobbying Herman Lelieveldt, Javier Astudillo and Linda Stevenson 6 The Internal Structure of Associations Lars Torpe and Mariona Ferrer-Fons 7 Organizational Resources: Personnel and Finances Hanspeter Kriesi 8 Networking Among Voluntary Associations: Segmented or Integrated? Sonja Zmerli And Ken Newton 9 The Political Role of Associations Herman Lelieveldt and Manuela Caiani PART III: Examining Context: Generations, Community Size and Culture 10 The Generational Dimensions of Associational Life Sigrid Rossteutscher, Lucia Medina and Per Selle 11 City Size and the Nature of Associational Ecologies Simone Baglioni, Bas Denters, Laura Morles and Angelika Vetter 12 The Political and Cultural Context of Associational Life Hanspeter Kriesi, Laura Morales and Melanie Walter-Rogg CONCLUSION 13 The Prospects of Civil Society and Democratic Governance William A. Maloney and Sigrid Rossteutscher Bibliography

Author Biography:
University of Newcastle, UK