Could Bowling Leagues and the PTA Breed Nazis?

July 30 (Bloomberg) -- In recent decades, many socialscientists have drawn attention to the importance of “socialcapital.” The term is meant to capture the value, economic andotherwise, that comes from social networks, through which peoplefrequently interact with one another. But what if social capitalends up contributing to the rise of extreme movements, includingfascism?

It is well-established that individuals and societies cangain a great deal from civic institutions, such as parent-teacher associations, athletic leagues, churches and musicclubs. High levels of social capital have been associated withnumerous social benefits, including improvements in health,promise-keeping, trust, altruism, compliance with the law, childwelfare and individual happiness.