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Putnam also did research on the causes of the breakdown of social trust. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9477.2007.00176.x https://online

by seneca 7y ago

Putnam also did research on the causes of the breakdown of social trust. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9477.2007.00176.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9477.... and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_D._Putnam#Diversity_and_trust_within_communities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_D._Putnam#Diversity_and... > "... in the short term, other things being equal, more diversity in a community is associated with less trust both among and within ethnic groups. Putnam describes people of all races, sex, socioeconomic statuses, and ages as "hunkering down", avoiding engagement with their local community as diversity increases. Although limited to American data, his findings run counter the contact hypothesis which proposes that distrust declines as members of different ethnic groups interact, and conflict theory which suggests that while distrust among ethnic groups rises with diversity, distrust within ethnic groups should decrease. Putnam found that even when controlling for income inequality and crime rates, two factors which conflict theory states should be prime causal factors in declining inter-ethnic group trust, more diversity is still associated with less communal trust. Further, he found that low communal trust is associated with the same consequences as low social capital. Putnam says, however, that "in the long run immigration and diversity are likely to have important cultural, economic, fiscal, and developmental benefits." It's no secret that the racial demographics in the US have seen significant change over the last generation. According to his research, this transformative time will lead to exactly what you're describing, but he conjectures that it will be worth it in the long run. Not very appealing to the current zeitgeist, or to Putnam himself, but it's the continuation of the 'Bowling Alone' research you mentioned.

jlokier 7y ago
As a potential counterpoint to what someone might read from that quote: > "Putnam denied allegations he was arguing against diversity in society and contended that his paper had been "twisted" to make a case against race-conscious admissions to universities. He asserted that his "extensive research and experience confirm the substantial benefits of diversity, including racial and ethnic diversity, to our society."
- throwawayCF4E 7y ago
  That's not a counterpoint. That's his opinion which is not supported by his research.
roenxi 7y ago
Rampant speculation on my part, but I've always suspected that the number of community leaders is small, delicate and disconnected from governments. I've observed that informal leadership in religious communities has an enormous effect on how communities behave - I lived in a town where the baptists organised an almost suspicious number of things for the general community. I could imagine diversity of religion with no economic incentives to standardise (as would be caused by general poverty) would lead to an element of fracturing in the community. Even without migration, rising trends towards atheism might have the same effect over the long term. It isn't obvious what is symptom and cause in all this though.

by seneca 7y ago

jlokier 7y ago

As a potential counterpoint to what someone might read from that quote: > "Putnam denied allegations he was arguing against diversity in society and contended that his paper had been "twisted" to make a case against race-conscious admissions to universities. He asserted that his "extensive research and experience confirm the substantial benefits of diversity, including racial and ethnic diversity, to our society."

throwawayCF4E 7y ago
That's not a counterpoint. That's his opinion which is not supported by his research.

roenxi 7y ago

Rampant speculation on my part, but I've always suspected that the number of community leaders is small, delicate and disconnected from governments. I've observed that informal leadership in religious communities has an enormous effect on how communities behave - I lived in a town where the baptists organised an almost suspicious number of things for the general community. I could imagine diversity of religion with no economic incentives to standardise (as would be caused by general poverty) would lead to an element of fracturing in the community. Even without migration, rising trends towards atheism might have the same effect over the long term. It isn't obvious what is symptom and cause in all this though.