Correlates of Trade Union Participation: A Summary of the Literature

Much that has been said seems to imply demise or radical alteration of voluntary associations. It is therefore of first importance to realize that problems of power are not eliminated by noble purpose. In any social system power is shared by those who are able and willing to mobilize political, economic, psychological, and ideological resources of community. In modern social experience this has been accomplished most effectively by highest administrative leaders. But over-centralization can become dysfunctional. It appears that a balance can be established only if members of local units gather their forces and create a viable rationale for their existence. The freedom of individual and autonomy of local group can never be sustained in absolute terms. According to ideology of voluntary associations, only in a local community of individuals gathered for a common cause can voice of people be spoken. But it is only in wider associations of these local groups which have been gathered to mobilize opinion of all company, that voice of people will be heard. in seventeenth century were sectarian and highly diverse in their doctrinal views current plea of many spokesmen is for general agreement concerning the normative phase of our history. Cf. ibid., pp. 26, 36.