Suchergebnisse

According to the theory of Alexis de Tocqueville, associational life within civil societies is considered to be of essential importance for the generation of interpersonal trust. In this article, we take a closer look at the relationship between associational membership & generalized trust. We present an empirical analysis focusing on Switzerland & encompassing participation in different types of associations (bridging vs. bonding & isolated vs. connected associations) as well as multiple participation irrespective of the type of association. Empirical analyses on the basis of data obtained by means of the Schweizer Freiwilligen-Monitor of 2007 lead us to the conclusion that in contrast to widely-held beliefs the generation of trust in Switzerland does not so much depend on membership in specific associations but rather on the personal willingness to integrate. This means that social trust is built for the most part depending on the quantity of personal voluntary engagement, & scarcely depends on the quality of the associations joined. Adapted from the source document.