The narrowing of civic life: professionally run and donor-funded organizations are trampling America's real grass roots. What's the upshot? Our democracy suffers and elites dominate.(Political inequality: democracy)
American Prospect, The, June, 2004 by Skocpol, Theda
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COMING TOGETHER IN TRADE UNIONS AND FARMers' associations, fraternal chapters and veterans' organizations, women's groups and public-reform crusades, Americans more than a century ago created a raucous democracy in which citizens from all walks of life could be leaders and help to shape community life and public agendas.
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But U.S. civic life has changed fundamentally in recent decades. Popular membership groups have faded while professionally managed groups have proliferated. Ordinary citizens today have fewer opportunities for active civic participation, and big-money donors have ...
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