ABSTRACT
In addit ion to these differences, empirical analyses suggest changing levels and modes of voluntary association membersh ip within countries. For instance, the panel study of Babchuk and Booth (1969) has indicated clear changes in 'member - ship profiles' accompanied by modera te changes at the aggregate level due to multiple membersh ip ties of m a n y respondents . Researchers have found small but noteworthy increases in the percentage of Amer ican adults belonging to voluntary associations (Hyman a n d Wright 1971), but others do not confirm this increase. In Europe , no clear change in the n u m b e r of people jo in ing unions or new social movements has been observed in the last decades (Aarts 1995). In discussing the change and persistence of voluntary association membership , P u t n a m (1995a; 1995b) has a rgued that a decline in active part icipat ion can be observed in the Uni ted States. People still jo in organisations but are increasingly 'bowling alone ' . This last thesis underlines the need for a distinction between the modes and level of par t ic ipat ion in voluntary associations.
