Week 6 & 7 Readings  

Week 6

Associations and Democracy 1

Lipset et al.
  • ITU: International Union of Typesetters
      * Democratic system
  • Mass society: a society without a multitude of organizations independent of state power has high dictatorial and revolutionary potential
      * Maintains:
        * Oligarchy
  • Men who are most involved in formal/informal relationships with other printers are more likely to be active and interested in union politics
  • Active associationism = linked with an increase in knowledge, interest, and involvement in union politics
  • Liberals are more motivated to participate in political activities
  • Characteristics
      * Status: highly educated but blue-collared workers → ambiguous
        * Become friends with other printers because can’t find people with similar status
      * Job satisfaction: really liked their jobs
        * Spend more time with co-workers
      * Substitute system: substitutes are hired each day, if don’t have work they socialize together
        * More time unemployed = more active in the occupational community
      * Working hours: mostly on weekends and at night
        * Cannot hang out with other people so they hang out with each other
        * Night workers = more active in associations

Associations and Democracy 2

Berman
  • Weimar Germany
      * High levels of associationism
      * Ineffective government

    → Fragmented German society instead of unifying it

    → Facilitated Hitler’s rise to power

    → Weakened democracy

  • The middle class suffered greatly from the Great Depression and became frustrated with the government’s failures
  • Nazis recruited highly activists individuals and exploited their skills to expand the party’s appeal and consolidate its power
      * They helped to design propaganda + political events
  • Nazis infiltrated existing associations to eliminate potential opponents
  • Flourishing civil society doesn’t lead to liberal democracy
  • The political context is important

Week 7

Religion and Democracy

Woodberry
  • Protestantism influenced the rise of stable democracy around the world through missionaries
      * Spread religious liberty
      * Mass education
        * For literacy
        * Women + men
      * Mass printing + newspapers
      * Voluntary organizations + associations
        * Promoted civil society
      * Colonial reforms
  • It is important to consider religious beliefs because they profoundly shape society