Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association and Community

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Handbook of European Societies

Abstract

Citizen’s willingness to invest time and resources in causes other than their own is arguably a central requisite of liberal democracies (Lipset 1996). Even non-political associations seem to have unintended but important consequences for citizens’ partaking in public affairs (Kwak et al. 2004). Volunteering is good for others and is good for you (Frey 2008: 79–86). This is not to say that all associational activity enhances the common good (Theiss-Morse and Hibbing 2005) or that there is a one-way causality between high levels of associational activity and effective political and economic institutions (Rothstein and Stolle 2003). Yet, there is enough evidence about benevolent effects of associational involvement to warrant further investigation into the scope and the structure of civic engagement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Therefore, the United Nations’ definition of civic engagement, describing it as non-profit, non-wage contributions made by individuals in the interests of the well-being of their neighbours and of society as a whole and with a view to tackling particularly significant problems in the social, economic, cultural, humanitarian and peace-keeping spheres (United Nations 1999: 2), has to be taken with quite a pinch of salt.

  2. 2.

    2The European Social Survey (ESS) is a representative population survey initiated by the European Science Foundation (ESF). A total of 22 countries participated in the first wave (2002/2003): Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Data on civic engagement are available for 19 European countries and Israel, the exceptions being the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The project is funded by the European Commission, the EFS and national organisations. The ESS has the long-term aim of examining interactions between the changing political and economic institutions and the attitudes, beliefs and behavioural patterns of the populations in countries studied. The representative population surveys carried out in the participating countries are based on a standard questionnaire eliciting information about different aspects of political and social life, which is complemented by additional questions specific to each country and to rotating priority topics. For more information see http://ess.nsd.uib.no/

  3. 3.

    We did exclude illegal political action from the analysis.

  4. 4.

    The income factor is partly captured by the number of friends. According to our analyses of ISSP 1986 data, in all participating countries persons with higher social status report more “good friends” than lower status persons (between 25 and 40% more).

  5. 5.

    According to Special Eurobarometer 273/Wave 66.3: European Social Reality (Fieldwork November–December 2006). [http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_273_en.pdf; 10.03.2009].

References

  • Anderson, B. R., 1983: Imagined Communities. London: Verso.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, R., Curtis, J., and Grabb, E. G., 2006: Trends in Civic Association Activity in Four Democracies: The Special Case of Women in the United States. American Sociological Review 71, 2: 376–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anheier, H. K. and Toepler, S., 2003: “Bürgerschaftliches Engagement zur Stärkung der Zivilgesellschaft im internationalen Vergleich“. In: Enquete-Kommission “Zukunft des Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements“. Deutscher Bundestag (ed.): Bürgerschaftliches Engagement im internationalen Vergleich. Schriftenreihe: Band 11. Opladen: Leske + Budrich, pp. 13–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bach, M., 2003: The Europeanization of Cleavages and the Emergence of a European Social Space. European Journal of Social Policy, 13: 50–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banfield, E., 1958: The Moral Basis of a Backward Society. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartolini, S., 2005: Restructuring Europe. Centre Formation, System Building and Political Structuring Between the Nation-State and the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, U., 2002: Cosmopolitan Society and Its Enemies. In G. Burkart and J. Wolf (Eds.), Lebenszeiten. Erkundungen zur Soziologie der Generationen. Opladen: Leske + Budrich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, U. and Grande, E., 2004: Das kosmopolitische Europa. Gesellschaft und Politik in der Zweiten Moderne. Frankfurt a.M.: Suhrkamp Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billig, M., 1995: Banal Nationalism. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boster, J. S. and Maltseva, K., 2006: A Crystal Seen from Each of Its Vertices: European Views of European National Characters. Cross-Cultural Research 40, 1: 47–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, P. R. et al., 2004: International Trust and Public Opinion About World Affairs. American Journal of Political Science, 48: 93–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruter, M., 2005: Citizens of Europe? The Emergence of a Mass European Identity. Houndmills: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bühlmann, M. and Freitag, M., 2007: Freiwilligentätigkeit als Sozialkapital. Eine empirische Analyse zu den Rahmenbedingungen bürgerschaftlichen Vereinsengagements. 163–182 in: Franzen, Axel and Freitag, Markus (Hrsg.), Sozialkapital. Grundlagen und Anwendungen. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

    Google Scholar 

  • CBOS. 2005. “Stosunek Do Innych Narodow.” Centrum Badania Opinii Spolecznej, Warszawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, J., Baer, J. E., and Grabb, E. G., 2001: Nations of Joiners: Explaining Voluntary Association Membership in Democratic Societies. American Sociological Review 66, 6: 783–805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dekker, P. and van den Broek, A., 2005: Involvement in Voluntary Associations in North America and Western Europe: Trends and Correlates. Journal of Civil Society 1, 1: 45–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delhey, J., 2004: Nationales und transnationales Vertrauen in der Europäischen Union. Leviathan, 32: 15–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delhey, J., 2007a: Do Enlargements Make the European Union Less Cohesive? An Analysis of Trust between EU Nationalities. Journal of Common Market Studies, 45: 253–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delhey, J., 2007b: Grenzüberschreitender Austausch und Vertrauen. Ein Test der Transkationsthese für Europa. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, Sonderheft 47: 141–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delhey, J., 2008: Trust in Co-Europeans and support for European unification: Extending the identity approach. In: Studies in Public Policy. Aberdeen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delhey, J. and Newton, K., 2003: Who Trusts? The Origins of Social Trust in Seven Societies. European Societies, 5: 93–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delhey, J. and Newton, K., 2005: Predicting Cross-National Levels of Social Trust: Global Pattern or Nordic Exceptionalism? European Sociological Review, 21: 311–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deth, Jan W. van, 2004: Soziale Partizipation. In: Jan W. van Deth (ed.): Deutschland in Europa, Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, pp. 295–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deutsch, K. W. et al., 1966: Political Community and the North Atlantic Area. In K. W. Deutsch et al. (Eds.), International Political Communities. An anthology. Garden City: Anchor Books, pp. 1–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enquete-Kommission “Zukunft des Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements“ (ed.), 2002: “Bürgerschaftliches Engagement: auf dem Weg in eine zukunftsfähige Bürgergesellschaft, Bericht“. Schriftenreihe Enquete-Kommission “Zukunft des Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements“ des Deutschen Bundestages, Opladen: Leske + Budrich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrera, M., 2005: The Boundaries of Welfare. European Integration and the Territorial Restructuring of Social Protection. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey, B. S., 2008: Happiness: A Revolution in Economics. Cambridge, MA and London: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabriel, O. W., Kunz, V., Roßteuscher, S., and Deth, Jan W. van, 2002: “Sozialkapital und Demokratie. Zivilgesellschaftliche Ressourcen im Vergleich”. Wien: Universitätsverlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambetta, D., 1988: Mafia: The Price of Distrust. In: D. Gambetta (Eds.), Trust: Making and Breaking Cooperative Relations. Oxford: Blackwell, pp. 158–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaskin, K., Smith, J. D., Paulwitz, I. et al., 1996: “Ein neues bürgerschaftliches Europa. Eine Untersuchung zur Verbreitung und Rolle von Volunteering in zehn Ländern“. Breisgau: Lambertus-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genna, G. M. 2003: “Images of Europe and Europeans: In-Group Trust and Loyalty for European Inte-gration.” in Paper presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haerpfer, C. W., 2002: Democracy and Enlargement in Post-Communist Europe. The democratisation of the general public in fifteen Central and Eastern European countries, 1991–1998. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haller, M., 2008: European Integration as an Elite Process. The Failure of a Dream? Milton Park, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoskins, B., d’Hombres, B., and Campbel, J. A., 2008: Does Formal Education Have an Impact on Active Citizenship Behaviour? Ispra, VA, Italy: Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen [http://crell.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ActiveCitizenship/impact%20final%20final%20BH%20BD%20JC%20EU%20reportsyslog.pdf; 10.03.2009].

  • Howard, M. M. and Gilbert, L., 2008: A Cross-National Comparison of the Internal Effects of Participation in Voluntary Organizations. Political Studies, 56, 1: 12–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Immerfall, S., 1997: Soziale Integration in den westeuroppäischen Gesellschaften: Werte, Mitgliedschaften und Netzwerke, in: Hradil, S. and S. Immerfall, Stefan (eds), Die westeuropäischen Gesellschaften im Vergleich. Opladen: Leske + Budrich, pp. 139–173 .

    Google Scholar 

  • Immerfall, S., 2001: Soziales Kapital in der Bürgergesellschaft. Befunde und Perspektive, pp. 177–193 in: Wichard. R. and M. Horinek (eds), Bürger Europas. Tschechen – Polen – Deutsche. Olomouc: Univerzita v Olomouci.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., 1990: Culture Shift in Advanced Industrial Society. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., 1991: Trust Between Nations: Primordial Ties, Societal Learning and Economic Development. In K. Reif and R. Inglehart (Eds.), Eurobarometer. The Dynamics of European Public Opinion. Essays in Honour of Jacques-René Rabier. Houndmills: Macmillan, pp. 145–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., 1997: Modernization and Postmodernization. Cultural, Economic, and Political Change in 43 Societies. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R., 1999: Trust, Well-Being and Democracy. In M. E. Warren (Eds.), Democracy and Trust. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 88–120.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kistler, E., Noll, H.-H., and Priller, E., 1999/2002: “Perspektiven gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalts. Empirische Befunde, Praxiserfahrungen, Messkonzepte“. Berlin: edition sigma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knodt, M. and Finke, B. (Eds.), 2005: Europäische Zivilgesellschaft: Konzepte, Akteure, Strategien. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwak, N., Shah, D. and Holbert, R. L., 2004: Connecting, trusting, and participating: The direct and interactive effects of social associations. Political Research Quarterly, 57(4): 643–652.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipset, S. M., 1996: Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword. New York: W.W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maloney, W. A. and Rossteutscher, S. (Eds.), 2007: Social Capital and Associations in European Democracies: A Comparative Analysis. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, K., 2008: Trust and Politics. In: Castiglione, D., van Deth, J. W., and Wolleb, G. (Eds.). The Handbook of Social Capital. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 241–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, K. and Giebler, H., 2008: Patterns of Participation: Political and Social Participation in 22 Nations. Berlin: WZB Discussion Paper SP IV 2008-201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peabody, D., 1985: National Characteristics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Philips, D., 2006: Quality of Life. Concept, Policy and Practice. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priller, E., 2007: “Ressourcen und Potentiale zivilgesellschaftlicher Organisationen in Deutschland“. In: Jürgen Kocka (Ed.): Zukunftsfähigkeit Deutschlands. Sozialwissenschaftliche Essays. WZB-Jahrbuch 2006. Berlin: edition sigma, pp. 329–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priller, E. and Zimmer, A., 2005: Ein europäischer Vergleich von Dritte-Sektor-Organisationen. Archiv für Wissenschaft und Praxis der sozialen Arbeit, 36(4): 128–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D., 2001: Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radtke, K., 2007: Ein Trend zu transnationaler Solidarität? Die Entwicklung des Spendenaufkommens in der Not- und Entwicklungshilfe. Berlin: WZB Discussion Paper SP IV 2007-304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedel, B., 2003: “Öffentliche Engagementförderung im europäischen Vergleich. Beispiele aus Dänemark, England und den Niederlanden“. In: Enquete-Kommission “Zukunft des Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements“ Deutscher Bundestag (ed.): Bürgerschaftliches Engagement im internationalen Vergleich. Schriftenreihe: Band 11. Opladen: Leske + Budrich, pp. 91–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M., 1957: Misanthropy and Attitudes Towards International Affairs. The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 1: 340–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothstein, B. and Stolle, D., 2003: Introduction: social capital in Scandinavia. Scandinavian Political Studies, 26(1): 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rucht, D., 2003: “Bürgerschaftliches Engagement in sozialen Bürgerbewegungen”. In: Enquete-Kommission “Zukunft des Bürgerschaftlichen Engagements“ Deutscher Bundestag (Ed.): Bürgerschaftliches Engagement in Parteien und Bewegungen, Schriftenreihe: Band 10, Opladen: Leske + Budrich, pp. 17–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiter, S. and de Graaf, N. D., 2006: National Context, Religiosity, and Volunteering: Results from 53 Countries. American Sociological Review 71, 2: 191–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schofer, E. and Fourcade-Gourinchas, M., 2001: The Structural Contexts of Civic Engagement: Voluntary Association Membership in Comparative Perspective. American Sociological Review 66, 6: 806–828.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simmel, G., 1950: The Sociology of Georg Simmel. Translated and edited by Kurt Wolff. Glencoe: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szczerbiak, A. and Taggart, P., 2004: The politics of European referendums outcomes and turnout: Two models. West European Politics, 27(4): 557–583.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sztompka, P., 1999: Trust. A Sociological Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Theiss-Morse, E. and Hibbing, J. R., 2005: Citizenship and civic engagement. Annual Review of Political Science, 8: 227–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations, 1999: “International Year of the Volunteer 2001. Background Note. Bonn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uslaner, E., 2002: The Moral Foundation of Trust. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Uslaner, E. M., 2001: Producing and Consuming Trust. Political Science Quarterly, 115: 569–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Oorschot, W. et al., 2006: Social Capital in Europe. Measurement and Social and Regional Distribution of a Multifaceted Phenomenon Acta Sociologica, 29: 149–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, C. and Pichler, F., 2009: More Participation, Happier Society? A Comparative Study of Civil Society and the Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research, 93, 2: 255–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, W., 1999: Whose Europe Is it Anyway? The 1998 Stein Rokkan lecture. European Journal of Political Research, 35: 287–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warren, M. E., 1999: Democratic Theory and Trust. In M. E. Warren (Ed.), Democracy and Trust. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 310–345.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Weßels, B., 2004: “Die Entwicklung der Zivilgesellschaft in Mittel- und Osteuropa“. In: Dieter Gosewinkel/Dieter Rucht/Wolfgang van den Daele/Jürgen Kocka (eds): Zivilgesellschaft – national und transnational. WZB-Jahrbuch 2003. Berlin: edition sigma, pp. 173–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wollebaek, D. and Selle, P., 2003: Participation and social capital formation: Norway in a comparative perspective. Scandinavian Political Studies, 26(1): 67–91.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Humanities Department, University of Education at Schwäbisch Gmünd, Gmünd, Germany

    Stefan Immerfall

  2. WZB, Social Science Research Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Eckhard Priller

  3. School of Humanities and Social Science, Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany

    Jan Delhey

Authors
  1. Stefan Immerfall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eckhard Priller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jan Delhey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Immerfall .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inst. Humanwissenschaften, Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd, Oberbettringer Str. 200, Schwäbisch Gmünd, 73525, Germany

    Stefan Immerfall

  2. Dept. Sociology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge, CB2 3RQ, United Kingdom

    Göran Therborn

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Immerfall, S., Priller, E., Delhey, J. (2010). Association and Community. In: Immerfall, S., Therborn, G. (eds) Handbook of European Societies. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-88199-7_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation