Community Works : The Revival of Civil Society in America

Washington D. C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1998. INSCRIBED / SIGNED and dated 6/19/98 on the title page by the editor, E. J. Dionne, Jr. Fine condition in a Fine dust jacket. NO chips. NO tears. NO creases. NOT a library discard. Bright, shiny, clean, square and tight. NO owner's name or bookplate. NOT a remainder. Pages are creamy white, crisp and unmarked. NO underlining. NO highlighting. NO margin notes. First printing with complete number row (987654321) on the copyright page. Bound in the original blue cloth, stamped in shiny gold. From the dust jacket: "Is America experiencing a boom in voluntarism and civic mindedness? Or is there a crisis in our communities and a breakdown in civil society? From the publisher: "Community groups are working together to clean up their cities and neighborhoods. People are rejoining churches, civic associations, and Little Leagues. And, at every opportunity, local and national leaders are exhorting citizens to pitch in and do their part. Why has the concept of a civil society -- an entire nation of communities, associations, civic and religious groups, and individuals all working toward the common good -- become so popular? Why is so much hope being invested in the voluntary sector? Why is a civil society so important to us? This book looks at the growing debate over the rise, importance, and consequences of civil society. E.J. Dionne puts the issues of the debate in perspective and explains the deep-rooted developments that are reflected in civil society's revival. Alan Wolfe and Jean Bethke Elshtain discuss reasons why the idea of a civil society is important today. Theda Skocpol and William A. Schambra offer two opposing viewpoints on where successful voluntary civic action originates --nationally or at the local grass roots. John J. DiIulio Jr. shines a light on the success of faith-based programs in the inner-city, and Bruce Katz studies the problems caused by concentrated poverty in those same neighborhoods. Jane Eisner underscores the extent to which the volunteer sector needs organization and support to effectively complete its work. Other contributors include Bill Bradley, William A. Galston, and Gertrude Himmelfarb.". INSCRIBED / SIGNED by E. J. Dionne. First Printing of the First Edition. Hardcover. Fine condition/Fine dust jacket. 8vo. x, 161pp.