Connect with Paul
About Paul
Lichterman studies how and why people get involved in citizen advocacy and volunteering. His close-up, observational research has investigated environmental, gay rights and housing justice advocacy organizations, community service efforts and non-profit organizations that develop affordable housing. He also studies the political and civic roles of religious organizations. Paul’s observational research focuses a lot on the styles of working together and developing goals together that he sees in the advocacy and community service organizations he studies. He shares his findings with these organizations, encouraging members to reflect on what they affirm or would like to change about the ways they define issues, generate campaigns and create group cohesiveness.
Contributions
Varieties of Civic Engagement in Contemporary America
No Jargon Podcast
In the News
Publications
Challenges the popular misconceptions that civic engagement is always uplifting and good for society. Clarifies what “civic” means, then uses extensive research to argues that civic action is shaped by markedly different organizational cultures that give citizens different capacities to influence government, reach out to fellow citizens, or even discuss opinions openly.