Section 5, Chapter 24, Toward an Agenda for Social Capitalists Summary and Analysis

Putnam states that re-creating social capital won't be easy. A national crisis or disaster might ease the transformation, but that's not something for which one wishes. People notice that social capital is weak, even if they do not know exactly what is happening. Naming the problem is only the first step, however. People need to create new structures to get people involved again. Innovative ways have to be sought and individuals have to act.

Putnam challenges America to find ways of re-engaging the public to match what the people in the Progressive Era did. He believes that the ways in which people will do this will be different now, but that it can still be done. One piece may be improved civics classes in schools, teaching children...