Here are some notes on civic disengagement I had in a notebook I am retiring. The notes come from different sources about the decline of urbanism and volunteer organizations–like the VFW.
Civic disengagement is a long-term trend in America especially with volunteer-lead organizations and in cities.
Urbanism and Demise
Social organization; city governability; dependence on civic life (neighborhoods, clubs, churches, sporting fields); saloons, ethnic groups, mutual aid societies)
Volunteer Organizations
– bridge differences, produces skills of leadership
– never a static population
GAR Grand Army of the Republic
Death of fraternal/sorotorial (SP?) bonds
– creation of government-run social insurance (sickness, funeral, life insurance benefits)
Massive die-off of traditional voluntary and membership associations > replaced by charitable, tax-exempt non-profit service entities operated by credentialed professionals
Geography of service: civic authority
responsible credentialed professional
Peer civics > clinical civics
Civid Die-Off
– volunteer-based civic organization
– crowded out by alternative use of leisure time (TV, Internet)
– suburbanization of rosters (movement to suburbs)
– insurance > displaced by government programs
Volunteer Organizations
– members elect leadership
– shaped programs of activities (democratically chose programs and priorities)
– schoolhouse for democracy
– neighborhood solidarity and mutual engagement
– events, pursuit of shared goals
– social identity, affinity, fun
Professional Staff Orgs:
– more expert, more efficient than volunteers
– erodes civic engagement
