Introduction: Mapping Social Capital Thirty Years After Making Democracy Work

This introduction outlines the research framework of the volume, clarifying its aims, theoretical background and empirical references. Social capital is interpreted as civic culture—a collective, value-related resource grounded in a shared sense of moral obligation towards others and institutional government, essential for spontaneous and organised cooperation. This civic disposition is expressed through behaviours such as voting, interest in public affairs, voluntary work, commitment to the common good and responsibility towards others. Published more than thirty years after Making Democracy Work by Putnam, Leonardi and Nanetti (1993), the volume revisits the Italian case to assess how civic culture and participation have evolved in a changing social, economic and political context. Building on that legacy, the book updates and expands the territorial indicators of civic engagement. The chapter closes by outlining the structure and objectives of the book.