American communities founded on intense associational activity now have a civic participation vacuum. Associations once mobilized their constituents for specific improvements. Now only local governments -- often elected by tiny numbers of voters, or self-appointed small business groups -- serve as public custodians. While there have always been goo... See more

According to Putnam, the more we prioritize our private bubbles over public life, the more we disconnect from our local surroundings. This has weakened American democracy. Fewer people are engaged in politics, and those who do are often at the political poles. With less social capital, our neighborhoods are connected by fewer informal, reciprocal t... See more

Three major explanations have emerged for the decline in local civic engagement in the US in recent decades: eroding social capital, the nationalization of American life, and the decline of local newspapers. Social capital—the relationships and trust that promote civic engagement—has decayed as modern life has become more individualized and less co... See more

. Le sentiment de solitude et d’isolement social est en augmentation. Près de la moitié des Américains disent se sentir seuls, isolés ou exclus27. Dans le monde développé, le niveau de confiance sociale n’a pas seulement baissé mais s’est littéralement effondré : les gens ne croient plus en leur gouvernement ni aux médias et ne se font plus confian

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