Democracy and Social Infrastructure
The W&M Washington Center is pleased to welcome Professors Candice Benjes-Small and Paul Showalter from Swem Library to teach "Democracy and Social Infrastructure" (INTR 390)
- 3 credits- COLL 350
- INTR 390 CRN: 32929
The word "infrastructure" is usually associated with big projects such as highways, bridges, power lines, Internet cabling, and water treatment facilities. These types of works serve to connect parts of the world and make possible the movement of people, goods, money, and ideas. But there's another type of connective tissue in the world-- social infrastructure- that one could argue is just as vital. Social infrastructure refers to the foundational physical elements and services that bring community members together in a positive way, such as public libraries, community gardens, parks, and green spaces. Using Eric Klinenberg's 2018 book Palaces for the People and related scholarship, this course will examine the idea of "social infrastructure" and the ways related projects create healthier, safer communities in which residents are more likely to have an active, participatory role in civic life.
{{youtube:medium:center|dPi-BwopW2E, Hear more from Professors Benjes Small and Showalter about their wonderful D.C. Summer Session 2022 course}}
