SOCI 205 1st Edition Lecture 15 Outline of Last Lecture II. Reading DiscussionIII. Individualism and HumanitarianismOutline of Current LectureII. DemocracyCurrent LectureII. Democracya. Tocqueville, Democracy in Americai. Americans tend toward1. Isolation2. Association – especially religious and/or civic groupsii. Key Conclusion1. Participation in religious groups (and civic associations) makes for a stronger democracya. Not just voting, but civil engagement also iii. Tocqueville’s vision of American democracy: common senseb. Democratic Theoristsi. John Dewey (1928) and Jane Adams (1910)1. Democracy is premised on individuals engaging “the other”2. What is key to successful interactions? a. Social reflexivity: The ability to be self-critical about relations with othersIII. Religious Groups in “Lakeburg” – Lichterman studiesa. Setting: Lakeburgi. University town in Upper Midwestb. Context: Welfare Reform of 1996 (Under Pres. Clinton)i. Activists asked: what will the poor do once “kicked off” welfare?ii. Promotion of faith-based alternatives to welfare (expanded under Pres. Bush and Obama)iii. Southside Neighborhood of Lakeburg: Race and Class Issues e.g. middle class whites interacting with poor, usually people of color (black, Hispanic)These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.c. Study’s Designi. Focus on groups helping former welfare beneficiaries1. Precisely those who are likely tod. “Two Moms and Free Meals”i. Objective: direct aid to the poor The “two moms” want to feed people only. No meetings, just cooking food and sharing a mealii. Residents don’t like the food & are skeptical of white middle-class outsiderSiii. Community Center Director helps mediate between “Two Moms” and residents of the southside community iv. Upshot: “Two Moms” showed social reflexivity1. Community residents eventually run the program themselvese. “Park Cluster”i. Group culture: initially, business-like; later, discussion-basedii. Objective: form partnerships with neighborhood groups and social agenciesiii. Park Cluster activities in Southside Neighborhood1. Eviction Relief Program2. After-school tutoring 3. Visitations with Sick 4. Summer school programs5. A “failure” neighborhood school in Southside Lakeburga. Key event: New School for Southside (failed)i. New school(s) for Park Neighborhood1. Park Cluster Volunteers support new schools2. Neighborhood Residents oppose3. Park Cluster Volunteers come to defend Neighborhood’s views4. Park Cluster Volunteers invited to join Neighborhood committeesa. A sign of acceptanceii. Upshot: social Reflexivity is difficult but results in new bridgesiv. Conclusion1. Tocqueville & common sense regarding civic engagement and
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