Marshall Ganz emphasizes that democracy is an action rather than a possession, stating, "Democracy is not something you have; it is something you do. If you're not doing it, it's not real." He warns that the decline in democratic actions within society shows a worrying trend.
Ganz discusses the shift from self-governing organizations to nonprofits and NGOs, arguing, "It is kind of hard to have any real understanding of what democracy means in terms of how we interact with each other and how we govern ourselves when it is not part of your daily experience." This shift diminishes civic engagement.
He mentions, "There is an interdependence between our political structures and our civil society structures," explaining the historical significance of local organizations which allowed democratic practices to flourish, noting a decline since the 1960s.
Ganz touches on the insight from Bob Putnam about a social capital crisis, asserting, "But that's not a cause. What really happens is there is a very dramatic shift in the dynamics of member." This reveals systemic challenges in democratic engagement.
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