By Robert D. Putnam
Like Hope for Cynics, I chose this one because I felt like I needed it right now. It helps to be reminded that we’ve been in the bad place before and pulled out of it. The cooperation of our society hasn’t been an uninterrupted downward slide. It has actually been bad, improved greatly, and then regressed. I don’t know if Braver Angels has a reading list, but it seems like this (and possibly Bowling Alone) should be on it.
Putnam argues that America has followed a long arc over the past 125+ years — moving from a highly individualistic, unequal society in the Gilded Age, to a more cooperative, community-oriented, and egalitarian society in the mid-20th century, and then back again toward individualism and inequality since the 1960s. He calls this the “I-We-I” curve.
The book suggests that by learning from the past “upswing” into greater solidarity, America can chart a course back toward a stronger “we” today.
Key Points
- The “I-We-I” Pattern
- Late 1800s: America was dominated by inequality, social fragmentation, and extreme individualism (the first “I”).
- Early–mid 1900s: Reform movements, civic engagement, and shared responsibility fostered greater equality, trust, and cooperation (the “We”).
- Late 1900s–today: A cultural swing back toward individualism and division, alongside rising inequality and declining trust (the second “I”).
- Four Domains of Change
Putnam tracks this arc across four major areas:- Economics: Inequality declined during the Progressive Era and New Deal, stayed low mid-century, then rose again starting in the 1970s.
- Politics: Bipartisan cooperation and reform gave way to polarization and gridlock.
- Society: Civic organizations, volunteering, and community life once flourished but have eroded (“Bowling Alone” extended).
- Culture: A shift from “we’re all in this together” to a focus on individual self-expression and consumerism.
- Role of Progressive Reformers
The earlier upswing was driven not by elites alone but by grassroots movements — reformers, social activists, churches, women’s groups, and civic innovators. These cultural changes preceded and supported political and economic reforms. - Race and Gender
The mid-century “we” was incomplete: progress coexisted with exclusion. Women, immigrants, and especially Black Americans were often left out. Yet grassroots movements (civil rights, women’s rights) challenged this hypocrisy. - Today’s Challenge
Putnam argues that America is again at a Gilded Age–like low point — hyper-individualism, inequality, and polarization. But history shows that a turnaround is possible if society embraces a cultural shift back toward solidarity and shared responsibility. - Hope for Renewal
Change begins with cultural and moral imagination, then spreads to institutions and policy. Small groups of reformers can catalyze big shifts — as happened in the Progressive Era.
Takeaway
The Upswing is both diagnosis and prescription: America has overcome deep division before by moving from “I” to “we.” If citizens and leaders embrace a spirit of solidarity and reform, another upswing is possible.