Social scientists in several disciplines have recently proposed the concept of “social capital” as a potential solution to a variety of social ills. Social capital refers to features of social organization, such as networks, norms, and trusts, which encourage coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit. Working together is easier in a community blessed with a substantial stock of social capital.

According to Putnam, however, America witnessed diminishing civic engagement from the 1970s due to some social changes. They include many millions of American women at work; increased mobility which reduced social rootedness; some demographic transformations including fewer marriages and fewer children which weakened middle-class parents; and technological transformation which privatized leisure time. ＜Bowling Alone＞ is Putnam’s earlier contention about these tendencies.

Since the civil society of Korea began being revitalized in the late 1980’s, Korean social scientists have analyzed various aspects of Korean civil society. As the sustainability of Korean civil society came to the point, they began to focus on the concept of social capital. As some social scientist put, Korean civil movement has been dishonored as “Civil movement without citizens.” Others have said that, unlike in the western societies, labor movement preceded civil movement in Korea. By reading this book you would get some hints about what a sustainable civil society should look like.