Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time

by Seth D. Kaplan

An urgent exploration of why American neighborhoods are in trouble, and how to fix them, starting with the places we call home.

The neighborhoods we live in impact our lives in so many ways: they determine who we know, what resources and opportunities we have access to, the quality of schools our kids go to, our sense of security and belonging, and even how long we live.
 
Yet too many of us live in  neighborhoods plagued by rising crime, school violence, family disintegration, addiction, alienation, and despair. Even the wealthiest neighborhoods are not immune; while poverty exacerbates these challenges, they exist in zip codes rich and poor, rural and urban, and everything in between.
 
In Fragile Neighborhoods, fragile states expert Seth D. Kaplan offers a bold new vision for addressing social decline in America, one zip code at a time. By revitalizing our local institutions – and the social ties that knit them together – we can all turn our neighborhoods into places where people and families can thrive. Readers will meet the innovative individuals and organizations pioneering new approaches to everything from youth mentoring, to urban planning, to keeping families intact: people like Dreama, a former lawyer whose organization works with local leaders and educators in rural Appalachia to equip young people with the social support they need to succeed in school, and Chris, whose Detroit-based non-profit turns vacant school buildings into community resource hubs while also organizing local volunteers to repair homes and beautify streets in neighborhoods across the city.
 
Along the way, Kaplan offers a set of practical lessons to inspire similar work, reminding us that when change is hyperlocal, everyone has the opportunity to contribute.

Genres: Urbanism, Sociology, Nonfiction, Urban Planning, Social Science, Audiobook, Business

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2023

About the author

Seth D. Kaplan is a leading expert on fragile states. He is a Professorial Lecturer in the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, Senior Adviser for the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), and consultant to multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, and OECD as well as developing country governments and NGOs.

Reviews

[Anlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a complement to another book I recently read, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life, Fragile Neighborhoods is a deep dive into sustainable community development, social enterprise, and social cohesion. I found Palaces for the People to be more comprehensive and systematic overall, whereas Kaplan's examples were comparably cherry-picked in the sense that they were not attempting to cover different aspects of social life (that wasn't his scope, anyway). This is also a great read, though. Appreciated the thoughtful analysis throughout, especially in the conclusion, about how modern American society and corporate culture has drawn us away from the interdependent neighborhood relationships we probably need to be happy and content.

[Karel Baloun · Rating 3 out of 5]

An academic with tremendous global policy experience tries to write a sociology popular book, and gets stuck on 5 weakly described and connected examples.
Kaplan also seems tethers to religion and outdated beliefs on gender roles. On pg 26 and pg 184-5, he praises his own upper class Jewish orthodox upbringing, and on pg 123 he praises China, India, Indonesia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia for low divorce rates. Kaplan is not ignorant so fully understands the social limits on women in those countries, but somehow praises them anyway. He incorrectly claims America's falling marriage rates are an outlier, without looking to the excellent unmarried parent outcomes in France, Scandinavia, and much of Europe.
For me, 2 of the 5 case study examples were full scale successes, Detroit and East Lake. Both of these required large fiscal investments and reconstruction of neighborhood facilities and infrastructure. Nothing surprising there.. we need much more of that.
I agree with Kaplan that "sideway" intervention reinforcing what is already locally working are optimal. On p164 he explicitly recommends focusing on boys, and I'd suggest that is a mistake. Stabilize girls, and then give the boys structure for entering those stabilized situations.
Kaplan has the life arc and personal experiences that I respect him and probably would like him personally. His appendix 1 summary protocol is generic and abstract enough to probably be useful, though I did not feel that way about chapter 9 where he added detail to the framework.
In the end, I feel intensely that Kaplan's recommendations would not work for me or any world I know, including Japan. I'm also not sure that local control wouldn't encourage racism and parochialism, as some local school boards tend to weaken their curricula for religious indoctrination. I believe the solutions also need to include technology and other modern means of connecting that resonate with younger generations and women.

[Byron Snapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was primarily about how in America we have lost a lot of the community groups, organizations, and sense of neighborhood as we have moved to prioritizing more individualized lifestyles. The book argues that this has caused a number of issues that have created fragile neighborhoods (even though our country is strong). It continues to argue that many of our societal woes could be better addressed by going back to more community/neighborhood focused approaches. It has lots of really great insights in that regard, explores some examples of organizations focusing on that approach, and points out why many of our top down approaches to helping economically distressed individuals ultimately prove unsuccessful (because their surrounding environment remains weak).

One thing it didn't address was why we moved from a society that was more community based to a more individualistic one. Why did we move to a more top down (national approach) to solving many of these issues as opposed to the local approach. A lot of it has to do with the failure of community groups/neighborhoods in effectively dealing with problems so we moved to a more national approach. It also had to do with people in the neighborhoods and community groups being outright ostracized by those groups (or many of its members) or just feeling like they never fit in and were truly accepted in those groups. We didn't just move to being more individualized and regional/national approach. People prioritized a more individualized approach for their safety and well being. They valued the nationalized approach because they were otherwise excluded from the community groups solutions. I just feel like if you are arguing to move back to a community approach, you need to address how the community groups can avoid the issues of the past that pushed us away from that before.

[T.]

Gracy Olmstead interviews Seth Kaplan:

Q: In Fragile Neighborhoods, you write that while economic poverty is a problem, “social poverty” is just as dangerous (perhaps even more so?). What is “social poverty,” and how does it impact people in the United States?

Mother Teresa once said, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” When social ties are weak, material wealth alone is not enough to protect a society from the risks of social poverty—which is why drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, and mental health struggles are all too common in middle- and upper-class neighborhoods, despite all disposable income that wealthier people enjoy. When our neighborhood social habitat doesn’t provide support structures, it takes a toll on our emotional, psychological, and physical health because our most basic needs aren’t satisfied.

What is social poverty? A lack of support from other people due to weak local institutions, unhelpful social norms, and a lack of robust social connections. In places that are socially impoverished, residents are less likely to receive help with their kids, locate a mentor or helpful contact when they need career help, or find support when they need hand-me-downs or extra cash to get through the month. More broadly, they are less likely to want to let another person know that they are in difficult enough straits to need help. They get stuck, and this yields more anxiety, isolation, and alienation.

Distinguishing between the material and social is essential. So well-off neighborhoods can be socially impoverished and poor neighborhoods can be socially rich. For example, the Amish, Hasidic Jews and enclaves of Somalis, Jamaicans, Vietnamese, and other immigrant groups usually have little material wealth but enjoy strong cultural and familial bonds. These strong social ties help them find jobs, get advice on navigating school or applying for college, and befriend neighbors. People help each other out, come together to manage difficulties, and support each other’s efforts to move upward in society.

More here.

[Travis Marcum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to Dr. Kaplan’s “Fragile Neighborhoods” due to the similarities in my work with community schools. I ended this poignant book with a newfound call to action to plant roots and cultivate the soil I tread on daily.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting ideas but the writing was kinda boring 🥱

[Christopher T Vannoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my book to the year. If you have any concern how to make our society a better place read this. Data backed thoughtful yet digestible journey through neighborhood. Involvement.

[Megan Ringrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for those seeking social change,(really great book club book!) but Kaplan's work has a significant oversight- he does not acknowledge the role that our current destructive systems of white supremacist patriarchy and late-stage capitalism play in our current situation.

Premise- societal improvement requires neighborhood-sized intervention. "changing the structure of how we engage each other" (Peter Block)
"We should endeavor to create the social conditions necessary for every person and family to thrive"

Several concrete examples of programs providing those improvements:

Life Remodeled (detroit)- renovating unused buildings and turning them into a nexus of social activities, programs, and small business incubators.
Relies on army of volunteers; the volunteers are in it to change themselves, not fix others

Partners for Rural Impact (formerly Partners for Education) (appalacian kentucky)- attempt to lift the education level of the whole region. Supports art and music programing focusing on local culture, local artists in residents in the schools. Prioritizes students in the 25th-50th% of their class.

Thread (baltimore)- attempt to replicate family-like social support system. Commits to students for 10 years, provides up to 4 "family members" to each student, who have a coach, and a grand-coach, who is coached by a paid staff community manager. Tracks outreach and connections via app to make sure every student is getting the connection they need. Tries to create future-ready networks.

Communio (jacksonville, billings, denver, fort worth, and the permian basin tx)- uses data analytics and modern targeting strategies to target marital support interventions most effectively in faith communities. Strengthening ties within the religious community, and also focusing on skills required for marriage.

Purpose Built Communities (started as the East Lake Foundation) (east lake atlanta)- improve communities by addressing housing (mixed income better), education (quality local schools), and infrastructure (positive things like walkability and commercial revitalization while addressing lacks like food deserts, lack of recreation space, access to health care) simultaneously. Goal is to end up with a neighborhood that has income diversification. Support mixed use zoning. Provide support to people to allow them to stay in their homes. Collaborate across neighborhood organiziations, act as a "quarterback". Locate in community affected. Staff with local residents. Works to anchor struggling neighborhoods with nearby stronger neighborhoods.


Lessons learned:
1 Focus on Kids- especially boys
2 Strategically channel resources where they can have the broadest impact
3 Simultaneously target as many drivers of neighborhood health as you can
4 Establish early warning systems and make ample use of the right kind of data
5 Empower volunteers and build on strengths
6 Look for ways to scale successful efforts sideways to create neighborhood-based national organizations
7 Look for ways to creatively engage religious organizations and values
8 Embrace government decentralization to spur social innovation
9 Invest in economic revitalization from the bottom up
10 Be prepared for a long-term commitment

Practical steps to move an initiative forward
1. Determine suitability- neighborhood must be open to change and have positive features or be near a stronger neighborhood
2. Build a trusted knowledgable capable change team of: leaders from institutions, committed volunteers from institutions, mix of residents and non-residents with interest in the community
3. Develop a shared vision
4. Identify Entry Point(s) for change
5. Build a coalition for action
6. Build and Maintain Momentum

[Tony Crispin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. Granted, it really spoke to me since it was covering an issue - place-based, bottom-up, locally led systems of urban/community development - but it really delivered on what it was going for. The first and last third are the real highlights where the author highlights the issue, methods of response, and hopeful outlook of what a real community-focused response to social dissolution could look like. The in between third being specific examples of the kinds of solutions the author aims at, some of which are better than others (this is the low point of the book by the way. At multiple times the author talks about data collection and analytical approaches to community problems. I didn't really subscribe to that, but he at least laid out his argument).

This is a relatively short read but the ideas put forward (mostly the fact they challenge so much conventional practice by combining an analysis of what has failed from past top-down responses to social issues with a revival of locally-oriented, long term networks of cohesion and interdependence) are just so prescient, well defined, and objectively correct that I can't help but put this near the top of my all-time favorites. For all the planning students, community leaders, concerned citizens, or just people who have a lingering feeling that the current goals of society (personal wealth accumulation, career advancement above all, personal freedoms before community care) are perhaps a little antisocial and could create some negative consequences, this one is for you. Anyone who really believes in something beyond themselves will get something from Kaplan here.

One more note to my urban planning besties: This book and the arguments contained in it, I think unknowingly, give a really good response to the current regime of planning and design "solutions" employed by local and regional governments. Even though we're moving to an era of walkability and downtown-foused design, the hierarchical structures of bureaucratic, centralized decision making in neighborhoods remain. Planning as a profession and urbanism as a way of thought need a revolution, not just a reform. Fragile Neighborhood provides some eye-opening insights into what the new power structures of neighborhood focused planning could look like.

[caffeinated_reads3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for being able to read this book as an e-arc.

I typically enjoy reading non fiction books about our society. However, this book, though it may be unbiased in some parts, it’s hard not to feel as though it was slightly pushing religion onto others. Was it any particular religion? No. But as a part of it’s whole to solve the issue of how broken the US society and neighborhoods have become, religion or the religious institutions is part of that solution.

A part of me wanted to like this book more than I actually wound up liking it. It was a guidebook with an outline of “how to” at the end. There was anger and frustration in some of the words. However, I became frustrated at some of the points the author made. It seemed the solution to fix our broken society was to go backwards, the ole “let’s do it the way it used to be” circa no phones, no social media, and put down that video game and be social face to face. Yes, socialization is important. But it would have been nice to hear what else could be done to work with today’s technology and connectivity, versus shaming the people who use it and those who have embraced their introverted nature. What they did mention about technology was a rather cool-nerdy app that tracked people’s behavior. But that also seemed borderline big brother.

If you are looking to be an active member of your society and want a guideline on how to fix those things, and be an activist? This is the book for you. I do not see this as an every reader type of read.

[Jennifer Stencel · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a librarian, I was looking for small steps and ideas that I could incorporate. That said, it does have me thinking of how to approach trying to address issues (with partners) that our libraries face in the communities we are in.
The cases provided were a little daunting in scope, as they were obviously impactful (rural and urban).
They were not small projects.

Some notes I took:
Understand what is holding the problem(s) in place. It’s rarely one thing and one thing is often part of a web of other things.
Fragile neighborhoods are a breakdown of social structures (relationships).
Our individualistic focus is harmful!
Work horizontally across the landscape. Think of who can be in the web as a partner to fix.
Celebrate and build upon the assets of neighborhood.
Always listen to those who live it, have those in it lead and guide and own it.
Start working with fragile neighborhoods next to stronger ones. The spillover will work in your favor, then work out from there.
Efforts must be placed based, relationship focused, and encourage social innovation.

[Ben Oberholtzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our neighborhoods are losing their human connection and there is no easy way forward- only through sustained (at least 10 year) visions of improvement, bottom up idea generation, strengthening of marriages and educational outreach, and more can real change happen.

Love the idea, but man is this book boring. It’s not boring as in it’s too academic, but it just is a slog to read. Either the book should have been paired down considerably, or more practical steps should have been included. Examples were few and vague, which I believe contributed to the book just not being an engaging read.

I’m trying to think of who the audience is for this book, and honestly I’m not sure. It’s not specific enough for those looking to actually implement these ideas, but its not engaging for someone to keep at it unless they were already interested in the topic.

[Amala's · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Real community produces an ecosystem in which every member is deeply embedded, not a collection of relationships that can be picked up and moved if the owner desire it.”

I thought how this book explains fragile neighborhoods and how we as a collective can bring them to a state of flourishing was very well researched and explained.

I can also say that yes this book was a little dry. I definitely had to force myself to continue reading. I think the point was made way before the book ended, but I can understand that the author wanted to give us real life examples of organizations that are doing well. In my opinion I did not need such long chapters of each example.

This is definitely a read to inform not entertain.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book diagnoses the impoverishment of social capital and the fracturing of community across the US. Better yet, the author, an expert on fragile states, prescribes several ways to repair and restore the health of US communities. Although I appreciate most of these solutions , I can already hear the ad hominem arguments that many academics will offer — the author sounds too conservative, the author overlooks the diversity that hyper individuality offers, religion is the opiate of the masses, etc. A wise leader will ignore these antiphonal voices and strategize ways to implement these ideas! If they need help, they can call on me.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book if you live in a fragile neighborhood.
The first half of the book was wordy but the second half had true stories, clear points, and helpful statistics.
I didn't walk away from this book with some naive perspective that changing a bad neighborhood is easy, but understanding that it is hard and most likely will take years to see results. I felt encouraged to see what small things I could do, even on my block, that would cause me and my neighbors to flourish in our current environment.

[Kelvin Zhou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learnt that social dynamics determine the trajectory of a country and it is more than poverty that affects the fragility of a neighbourhood. It can happen to the middle class as well.

Institution (marriages, social ties, family) and structure (schools etc) matter. Ways to improve should be placed based to improve social ties across classes rather than vertically and focused.

Initiatives should be targeted neighbourhood by neighbourhood rather than nationwide as the policies may not be applicable to all hoods.

[Kevin Postlewaite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good book, discussing many aspects of the systemic problems facing challenged neighborhoods in the U.S. This books contains hopeful presentation of the change some organizations are promoting in some these neighborhoods. It also contains many data-free claims about causes/effects but the book is still worthwhile once one ignores those. (neighborhoods are complex systems, cause and effect are impossible to determine reliably from external anecdotal observation).

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone and The Upswing, I kept wondering, "This is great, but what are some concrete steps to actually reverse the declines in community and social capital we are seeing?" This book finally gave some ideas for what we can do. Kaplan does a good job of setting up the problem, identifying broad points for solutions, and profiling groups and people working in this space.

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ordered this one based on his interview with Gracy Olmstead in her substack. First few chapters are convincing, some of the organizations he describes are inspiring, and yet...it falls a bit flat. I still don't really know what I should be doing, where my resources would be best spent, and some of the recommendations seem downright contradictory. I guess it's not surprise that the conditions are complicated and therefore solutions are also.

[R.M. Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars. While I disagree with some of his conclusions and solutions, by and large, I love this author's realistic yet hopeful take on how we can make a difference in our communities. The hopeful tone is especially appreciated in a world where we tend to be doom and gloom. Recommended to those who have a feeling that knowing none of your neighbors is abnormal.

[Josh Samarco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

I read and discussed this book with colleagues. It was a good read, especially in terms of making your community better by investing in a zip code and/or neighborhood. There’s some new language in here that helps with framing when it comes to community work/partnerships. This is not a must read but a good read nonetheless.

[Rona · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are important lessons in community organizing here. The biggest one is that every community is different, and nothing goes well without including people on the ground.
However, the author is coming at community in a way that sounds liberal and generous, but sits in a deeply heteronormative institutionally religious context.
This context simply rules some people in and too many out.

[Matt Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Physical Book. Was ok. Short read. Basically several examples of investments into cities that were in bad places and how they've changed. His focus:
Spend time small and local.
Get local people involved as leaders.
Religion is a net good.

Its fine. I don't know that it is the universal recipe.

[JJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a book that markets a few businesses. The idea seems to be "let decisions be made at a low level, and make data available to those people making decisions. Don't let the State or Federal government think they know best" Saved you 6 hours.

[Amanda]

DNF

[Sheri S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book with lots of insight about why American society is suffering, especially with regards to social relationships.

[Koko · Rating 2 out of 5]

nothing revolutionary. some weird biased perspectives towards marriage/ two parent households.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of why I got my undergraduate degree in sociology.

[Dwayne Dyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good use of data and real life, time tested examples.

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars for me. Some parts made sense other parts I could not, would not get behind.