Boix, C., & Posner, D. N. (1996) & Putnam, Robert D. L5 Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is Robert Putnam’s main finding in ‘Making Democracy Work’?
Regions with strong associational life have better institutional performance due to higher social capital.
What does Putnam mean by ‘social capital’?
Networks, norms of reciprocity, and trust built through civic associations that promote cooperation.
It’s the trust, networks, and shared norms that help people cooperate and work together for the public good.
How does Putnam explain regional differences in government performance in Italy?
Northern Italy has higher civic engagement and stronger social capital, leading to better governance.
Why are horizontal associations more effective than vertical ones for building social capital?
Horizontal associations foster mutuality and cooperation, while vertical ones are based on hierarchy and dependence.
What are ‘bridging’ vs ‘bonding’ social capital?
‘Bridging’ connects diverse groups, fostering broader cooperation; ‘bonding’ strengthens internal ties but may exclude outsiders.
Why might private goods-producing associations be less effective at building civic capacity?
They don’t require overcoming collective action dilemmas, unlike public goods associations.
A: Because they serve their own members instead of solving public problems, so they don’t teach people to cooperate with others in the community.
What is a key critique Boix & Posner make of Putnam’s work?
They argue he underspecifies the mechanisms linking social capital to good governance.
Boix and Posner argue that Putnam doesn’t fully explain how social capital leads to better government performance. He shows there’s a correlation—places with more civic engagement tend to have better governance—but he doesn’t clearly explain the mechanism behind it
How might high levels of social capital also cause problems?
If associations are segregated or exclusive, they may reinforce division and hinder broader cooperation.
How do Boix & Posner expand on the economic effects of social capital?
They argue social capital reduces transaction costs, fostering economic development when complexity increases.
What historical explanation do Boix & Posner give for North-South differences in Italy?
Northern towns had more equality and space for cooperation; the South was dominated by feudal elites who suppressed it.
Why do Boix & Posner emphasize politics in social capital formation?
They argue political conflict and inequality shaped civic traditions, which Putnam underemphasized.
What are the four models Boix & Posner use to explain how social capital affects governance?
Rational voters & elites, bureaucratic efficiency, civic virtue, and elite accommodation.
What is the ‘aggregation problem’ identified in the review?
Putnam shows correlation between civic life and governance but doesn’t fully explain how social cooperation scales into state performance.
What do Boix & Posner warn about applying Putnam’s findings elsewhere?
Associational life might not generalize, especially if social networks are segregated or externally imposed.
Why is relying on civic associations to improve governance risky?
Because not all civic associations are good for democracy.
Some can be exclusive, divisive, or even manipulated by powerful groups
Without existing trust and inclusive networks, fostering associations may deepen divisions or be co-opted.
