Freemasonry and Civil Society: The Case of the United States

Abstract

This article argues that the fairly obscure archives and records of Freemasonry and similar secret ritualistic organizations can teach us a great deal about the ways in which voluntary movements have contributed to the process of democratization. Some of the research questions proposed in this article are the following: Are voluntary organizations an essential ingredient of democratization, and if so, does that include the vast number of voluntary organizations which appear to be authoritarian in their internal affairs? Do groups whose goals and internal structure have little relationship to the nurturing of democracy nevertheless contribute to democratic culture? This work aims to contribute to the now growing volume of literature about civil society, volunteerism and democracy. Two other themes discussed here are the interplay and scholarly use of political and popular culture scholarship and the influence on state and society of secret ritualistic organizations, particularly the Freemasons.