Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Civil Society
Abstract
Civic engagement, through voluntary associational membership, is touted as the keystone of community. It is within these groups where people get a chance to come together to form the necessary social network connections needed to accomplish collective endeavors. Civic engagement can have a bridging effect, bringing disparate people and communities together. Civic engagement can also have a bonding effect on members, which builds strong in-group ties, putting the membership at odds with outsiders. This article examines the relationship between voluntary associations and social network diversity. Since civic engagement is considered a resource, vis-a`-vis social capital (where more is always better), the relationship between social network diversity and multiple group membership is isolated. The type of group is also taken into consideration, because the nature of some organizations, e.g., religious and neighborhood associations, can prove an impediment to diversity. Using the national sample of the ‘Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, 2000,’ I find that membership in voluntary civic organizations has a positive relationship with social network diversity in the United States. Multiple group membership, as well as participation in neighbourhood associations and arts and book clubs, shared a positive relationship with social network diversity.
First Page
25
Last Page
38
DOI
10.1080/17448680701390695
Publication Date
2007
Recommended Citation
Aguado, Alexander, "Civic Voluntarism as a Vehicle Towards Diversity" (2007). Politics, Justice, Law, and Philosophy. 2.
https://roar.una.edu/politicsjusticelawphilosophy/2
