These readings engage us in thinking about the connection between nonprofit organizations and political and economic development. They also connect us with the readings of the first two weeks and suggest questions about the social and institutional implications of altruism, trust and social justice. Robert D. Putnam. Making Democracy Work . American Behavioral Scientist .
Gifts grant power to the giver.
While nonprofit institutions in the arts, education, sciences, and social services are the primary beneficiaries of philanthropy, they are also the institutions which define culture, establish professional domains, create class distinctions, and confer status to wealthy contributors. Sorting out the intricacies of these linkages and weighing the democratic dilemma of elitism against the benefits of social innovation are not well suited to a few short readings. Nevertheless, a topic so central to the theme of this course must at least be given a proper introduction. The historical essay by Hall is complimented by three articles which more explicitly consider theories of social reproduction. Peter Dobkin Hall.