Associations, Social Networks, and Democratic Citizenship: Evidence from East Asia

Chong-Min Park

《Taiwan Journal of Democracy》 8卷2期 (2012/12) Pp. 35-50

https://doi.org/10.29654/TJD.201212.0005

並列摘要

In this essay, the author examines whether associations and other types of social networks contribute to democratic citizenship across East Asia. The analysis shows that association membership is only faintly related to generalized trust and toleration of social diversity, raising doubts about the role of associations as schools for the development of civic virtues. In contrast, association membership is consistently related to modes of political participation, confirming the thesis that associations serve as schools for political activism. The findings suggest that the role of civil society for promoting democracy may vary, depending upon the dimensions of democratic citizenship. The author concludes that, for a better understanding of associations as schools of democracy, empirical research should disentangle dimensions of developmental or socialization effects, which may not always go hand-in-hand.

並列關鍵字

Association membership ； social networks ； social capital ； democratic citizenship

參考文獻

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