Communities are the foundation of a democratic way of life. This idea is known as communitarianism, a school of thought that envisions “a richly American narrative of strong families, of vibrant communities, of people taking care of themselves and each other,” in the words of the American Project’s “A Way Forward” document.
Communitarianism is stirring again. For instance, under the leadership of Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), Congress’s Joint Economic Committee launched the Social Capital project, which investigates the nature and importance of “associational life” in American society. The work of the Woodson Center parallels its efforts, challenging a “victimhood mindset” that inadvertently disempowers low-income communities. Bob Woodson promotes community revival from “the inside out and from the bottom up.”
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