Matthew Baggetta
Assistant Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University
Chapter Member: Indiana SSN
Areas of Expertise:
- Civic Engagement
- Social Movements
Connect with Matthew
About Matthew
Baggetta’s research interests include civil society and civic engagement, membership-based organizations, and social movements. He has conducted studies of Sierra Club chapters, local community choirs, and campus-based student groups. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Melos Institute, a think-tank focused on membership-based organizations, and was previously president of the board of directors of the Boston Choral Ensemble, a nonprofit chorus. Baggetta is a contributing editor at Mobilizing Ideas, an interdisciplinary blog focused on social movements.
Contributions
How Civic Associations Can Create Committed Leaders
SSN Key Findings Brief,
In the News
Guest to discuss his research as presented in the article, "Leading Associations" on SAGE Podcasts, Matthew Baggetta, September 10, 2013.
Matthew Baggetta's research on leadership discussed in , "Study Looks at What Drives Volunteer Leaders’ Commitment," Associations Now, June 18, 2013.
Matthew Baggetta's research on associations and what motivates engagement discussed in , "Membership Memo: Schools of Democracy," Associations Now, February 1, 2013.
Matthew Baggetta's research on associations and what motivates engagement discussed in , "For Civic Associations, Effective Leadership Produces Organizational Success," IU Perspectives on Policy, July 12, 2011.
Guest to discuss nonprofit organizations serving the homeless in southern Indiana on WFIU’s Noon Edition, Matthew Baggetta (with ), June 10, 2011.
Matthew Baggetta's research on leadership lessons from the Sierra Club discussed in , "Kiwanis Needs Quality, Not Quantity," The Society Pages, October 12, 2010.
Matthew Baggetta's research on the organizational characteristics of choral societies discussed in , "Forget the Bowling League, Join a Choir," OrgTheory, December 11, 2009.
Matthew Baggetta's research on best practices for civic associations discussed in , "What Makes Civic Associations Work," Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2010.
Publications
"Leading Associations: How Individual Characteristics and Team Dynamics Generate Committed Leaders" (with ). American Sociological Review 78, no. 4 (2013): 544-573.
Shows how the commitment of volunteer leaders is greater in environmental organizations where leadership teams work more interdependently, share work more evenly, and spend less time in meetings.
"The Relationship of Leadership Quality to the Political Presence of Civic Associations" (with ). Perspectives on Politics 9, no. 1 (2011): 45-59.
Shows that environmental associations with skilled and committed leaders have greater political presence in their communities – even when the associations have relatively few resources and work in politically unfriendly contexts.
"Learning Civic Leadership: Leader Skill Development in the Sierra Club" (with ), in Interest Group Politics (8th Edition), edited by Allan J. Cigler and Burdett A. Loomis (CQ Press, 2011), 110-138.
Shows what skills environmental association leaders learn, how much they develop those skills, and what associational settings foster that learning.
"Leadership, Membership, and Voice: Civic Associations That Work" (with ). American Journal of Sociology 115, no. 4 (2010): 1191-1242.
Explains why some civic associations are more effective at developing skilled leaders, enhancing participation, and influencing their communities.
"Civic Opportunities in Associations: Interpersonal Interaction, Governance Experience, and Institutional Relationships" Social Forces 88, no. 1 (2009): 175-199.
Demonstrates that recreational associations offer as many (or more) opportunities for the civic development of members as political groups and service organizations.