Democracy in France: Do Associations Matter?
Résumé
In the recent debate about the concept of social capital, the civic and democratic role attributed to voluntary associations has received critical attention (Tarrow 1996; Portes 1998;Van Deth et al. 1999;Warren 1999). In line with Tocqueville's famous statement that "only by the reciprocal action of men upon another can feelings and ideas be renewed, the heart enlarged, and human mind developed....This, only associations can do" (Tocqueville 1986,158), many authors perceive voluntary associations as an ideal school of democracy. [First lines]