Putnam's Studies

Robert D. Putnam studied many different aspects of the social structure and conducted different studies in places like Italy. Putnam had a strong feeling on social structure and believed that, one needs social skills to move up with capital. The social structure is constituted by people. Putnam believed that if one does not like their social structure, it is not that that they disapprove rather the people in that social structure. "Social capital is key to high institutional performance and the maintenance of democracy" (Putnam). In Putnam's book which he wrote after studying in Italy consisted of,"The the performance of twenty regional Italian governments since 1970, which were similar institutions but differed in their social, economic and cultural context. They found that regional government performed best, holding other factors constant, where there were strong traditions of civic engagement" (Wikipedia). The book was titled, Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy.

One author by the name of LaPalombara stated, "Overall, Roger Putnam's book tends to "reinforce the conviction of those in Italy who believe that ... the regional reforms of the early 1970's have been largely a failure." (LaPalombara 550) At the same time, he is servicing the larger debate on democratization by forwarding his own views on civic virtue as a motivator for the success of democratic institutions. While some criticism is leveled against his theories, reviewers tend to respect and value his conclusions, if not wholly accept them" (LaPalombara 550).

There is plenty of information from this study that Putnam recieved after studying some of the democracy work from modern Italy. In conclusion, Putnam has also written other books like Bowling Alone which has to do with how their is a lack in civic, social and political life since the 1960's which was also a big hit of Putnam. Putnam is also involved with recent activity taking place and has spoke about how Britain may have a British Obama.