Putnam is interested in the links between social capital and a properly functioning democracy.

Yes, Putnam's notion of social capital is similar to Bourdieu's.  It refers to "features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordiantion and cooperation for mutual benefit." (67)

When social capital is high - when people know each other and trust each other - it is easier for people to come together for communication or collective action purposes.  As Tocqueville might suggest, they are not dependent on the government to get things done and they are forced to recognize the things they have in common.  It is fairly easy to see how these things might be related to a well-functioning democracy.

Putnam then proceeds to outline all the ways in which our (US citizens) social capital and civic engagement has declined in the last 30 or 40 years.

1) Activities in politics and government

- decline in voter turnout
-drop in attendance at public meetings on town or school affairs
(these declines might be explained by political scandals and tragedies, but ...)
 

- churches and church groups
- labor unions
- PTA
- civic and fraternal organizations
- Boy Scouts
- Red Cross
- other volunteering
- BOWLING LEAGUES
Countertrends:

However, it might be possible that these organizations have been replaced by new organizations such as the Sierra Club, National Organization for Women, and the AARP.

Putnam argues that these organizations are obviously politically important, but they do little to increase social connectedness/social capital because they don't really create interaction between members.  they only require members to occasionally write a check or read a newsletter.  Thus, they are not likely to increase social trust.

A similar case can be made against nonprofit organizations - they don't increase social connectedness.

Finally, support groups have undoubtedly increased in the last 30 years.  However, Putnam argues they don't play the role of traditional civic associations because they don't create the lifelong types of attachments that neighborhoods, families, and community attachments do.
 

4) Neighborliness

5) Trust in others

Why is American social capital declining?

1)  The movement of women into the labor force?

But, then why has men's participation in organizations declined approx. the same amount as women's?
 

But, residential stability now is higher now than in the 1950's.

Maybe some, but Putnam argues, the real answer is ...

Trends in technology are privatizing our leisure time.  Yes, that means TV - which makes our communities wider but shallower.  It seems to be driving a wedge between our individual interests and our collective interests.