Factors of Civic Disengagement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Factors of Civic Disengagement - Essay Example However, changes in social structures, economic needs, and order of priorities altered several social obligations. As what Robert Putnam (2000) pointed out, residential mobility, economic hard times, and busyness are prime factors of civic disengagement. To best suit the fluidity of lifestyle of today’s Americans, â€Å"thin, single-stranded... are replacing dense, multi stranded, well-exercised bonds† (Putnam, 2000, p. 184). These bonds are more informal which suit the kind of life they lead. One would say that American civic engagement is slowly declining but this is of course, because of several logical and valid reasons. In the striving economic situation and the frequent rise of price for basic commodities, working individuals are not to blame for disengaging from social activities; however, this is not to approve of it but rather, a more considerate point to address the growing economic needs of the family. On the other hand, Putnam (2000) contends that however th ese busy people work for better financial situation, â€Å"economic good fortune has not guaranteed continued civic engagement† (p. 194); busyness does not excuse them of disengaging from civic life. Another factor is residential mobility (p. 204). The Americans’ mobility largely depends on economy; where employment opportunity is dense, they would be willing to relocate.