Copyright 1996

READING PASSAGE 3 
ASSOCIATIONS PROVIDE THERAPY FOR SOCIETY
A century and a half ago, Alexis de Tocqucville Television, tapes, CDs, VCRs and audio-visual
travelled across the United States to learn more
cameras have turned the home into an
about democracy One of its underpinnings, he
entertainment centre Another giant leap is
came to believe, was a phenomenon he had not
occurring through the use of the Internet, the
observed in Europe, namely membership by
electronic network, that is ultimately likely to
citizens in voluntary social groups
be the most revolutionary of all behaviour-
modifying technologies
By the 1950s 'voluntarism', as it came to be
known in the US, was being studied diligently
Putnam's provocative study provides the
by sociologists Uniquely, Americans continued
context within which to consider the
to increase their participation in organisations
implications No eye-to-eye contact, not even
such as the parent-teacher associations, league
the voice recognition of the phone Just a
baseball, girl and boy scouts, choral societies,
depersonalised screen with its written
bowling leagues, junior leagues of women
messages on thousands of electronic bulletin
voters — the list seemed endless
boards Worldwide, the 'community' of
Internet users is growing More than 26 million
Then, in the 1960s, voluntary participation
are already wired in According to one
began a steep slide Robert Putnam, a political
electronic pioneer, by 2005, if the growth rate
scientist, in an ingenious study entitled
continues, every country in the world except
Bowling Alone Dcmoiraiy al the End of the
Africa will be connected to this global network
Twentieth Century, began to interpret the
It seems unlikely that there will be much time
implications of the falling figures Not
for group activity Why might this social
surprisingly, he forecasts a threat to democracy
isolation'make a difference
7
Putnam's figures
in the decline of a once vital part of American
rev eal that being socially connected yields
life
benefits for individuals and society It is good
for your health
The reasons for these continuing changes are as
numerous as the organisations experiencing
Joining one group cuts your mortality risk in
them The rapid movement of women into the
half, two groups are twice as good If you are
uorklorce is often cited, incorrectly, 1 believe.