Join or Die: A Film About Why You Should Join a Club

Please join the McCourtney Institute for Democracy for a free public screening of the award-winning documentary film, Join or Die, a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it. The film draws from the work of Robert Putnam’s seminal book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Putnam’s book, which came out 25 years ago, was based on his research as a political scientist about the importance of participating in clubs and organizations. His message was clear and simple: a healthy democracy depends on our sense of connection to each other. Putnam’s research outlines how a decline in clubs and organizations negatively impacts our faith in each other and our system of government.

The film was created by Putnam’s former student-turned filmmaker, Pete Davis, and his sister Rebecca Davis. Together they tell an entertaining and upbeat story about the life and research of a favorite professor through interviews with Putnam himself accompanied by Pete Davis’s enthusiastic narration, interviews with prominent figures like Hillary Clinton and Pete Buttigieg, and visually compelling archival footage. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with professors, community members, and civic leaders.