Making Democracy Work Better

“Offers an excellent review of the social capital literature. . . . Because the research design of this project can be adapted to many other studies focused on social capital, the book will be especially useful for social scientists and management specialists in various disciplines interested in social capital research.” — CHOICE

“This is a wonderful book about democracy, economics and community in the real world. Richard Couto has a fine eye for political theory and a fine ear for the poems, songs, chants and voices of people struggling to improve their lives.” — James A. Morone, Brown University

“In a rich study that combines sophisticated political theory with well-grounded research, Richard Couto examines the potential contributions voluntary organizations make to the 'democratic prospect' of enhancing community and equality in American public life. Specifically, he examines the mediating role a wide range of community-based organizations and coalitions in Appalachia play between the public and private sectors in order to understand how grassroots groups best mitigate and challenge the failure of economies and governments to provide for basic human needs, especially in rural communities and regions of poverty, disinvestment, and deindustrialization.” — Dwight B. Billings, University of Kentucky