Today Smerconish on CNN interviewed Eric Klinenberg, sociology
professor at NYU, about his new book “Palaces of the People: How Social
Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of
Civic Life”. Random House. At first
glance, this sounds like a reissue of Charles Murray’s call for more social
capital in his book “Coming Apart” (March 14, 2012).
The title seems somewhat self-explanatory. Klinenberg argues
that we indeed neglected out infrastructure, ranging from flood protection to
climate change to the electric grids, but we have also neglected setting up
public spaces – he talks about libraries, playgrounds, parks (including
national parks). I don’t know from the
interview how much he gets into the psychological dynamics of increasing social
capital in a location among neighbors.
It’s more than condo Christmas parties of block parties.
Klinenberg does argue that social capital is a critical aspect
of resilience for recovering from natural disasters and possibility form discouraging
enemy terrorism.
Klinenebrg has also authored “Going Solo: The Extraordinary
Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone”. Penguin, 2013. And the summarizes say his account of this development
(of which I am a part) are surprisingly positive. Paul Rosenfels knew that.
Picture: North Carolina, in area affected by Matthew
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