ABSTRACT
Little by little it has become received wisdom that modern citizens are individualized and, thus, are no longer attracted to traditional institutions and collective arrangements. Whether it is a residents’ association or a trade union, voluntary work or the welfare state, modern citizens are only prepared to contribute to them if it is in their personal interest. However, since the well-educated, articulate citizen of today is capable of taking care of himself, he hardly ever considers this to be in his own self-interest. As a consequence, public support for the welfare state is crumbling.
