Photo Credit: Martha Stewart
In awarding the 2026 honorary degrees, President Maurie McInnis read the following personalized citation.
Renowned American political scientist, you have warned us in more than fifteen influential books, translated into twenty languages, that the real health of a flourishing democracy is not in money, or physical assets, but in the value embedded in connections among people. When individuals participate in civic groups, neighborhoods, religious congregations, clubs – and perhaps even ceremonies – they are, in your words, not “bowling alone,” as too many seem to be in recent years, but building relationships that foster the mutual obligation and trust that have a moral force greater than any other power.
Today, when many of us are joined closely with one another in communal celebration, we extend our social capital to present you – researcher, teacher, and author extraordinaire – with your third Yale degree, Doctor of Social Science.
Robert D. Putnam is a renowned American political scientist celebrated for his influential work on social capital, community, and democracy. He is the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy, Emeritus at Harvard University. His research has had a lasting impact on the way we understand the importance of social networks and their role in the vitality of democracies.
Putnam grew up in Port Clinton, Ohio, in a close-knit family and a vibrant community in the 1940s and 1950s. This early exposure to strong community bonds profoundly influenced his scholarly pursuits. Putnam attended Swarthmore College, where he earned his summa bachelor’s degree in 1963, and received a Fulbright Fellowship to study at Balliol College, Oxford.
He furthered his education at Yale University, obtaining a master’s degree and a PhD in political science. During his time at Yale Putnam wrote his first research paper, “Political Attitudes and the Local Community,” which sixty years later remains one of his most cited works. Those were golden years of the Yale political science faculty, including Robert Dahl, Robert Lane, Karl Deutsch, and Joseph LaPalombara, all focused on theories of democracy.
Putnam’s academic career began at the University of Michigan, where he joined the faculty as an assistant professor. He later moved to Harvard University, where his pioneering research and teaching on social capital set new benchmarks in political science. His landmark book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (2000), brought national attention to the decline of social engagement in the United States, highlighting the consequences for society and democracy. This work emphasized the importance of social networks and trust in fostering vibrant communities and civic life. Throughout his career, Putnam has explored topics including European political systems, political elites, and international relations, but his central focus on democracy and social capital has remained a constant theme.
Putnam continues to shape public discourse with his latest work and contributions. The Netflix documentary Join or Die (2023) brought his research on social capital and civic engagement to a broader audience. Putnam’s fifteen books translated into twenty languages have earned him numerous accolades, including a Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal by the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 2003 and the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in 2013. He has received honorary degrees from Stockholm University, Ohio State University, University of Antwerp, University of Edinburg, and Oxford University. Strongly connected to Yale, he often reflects on how his early academic experiences shaped his career, and he remains involved with Yale through various academic collaborations.
Putnam’s personal life is a testament to his deep commitment to community. In June 1963, he married Rosemary Werner Putnam, a woman who has been his partner in both family life and community-building efforts. While Putnam writes about community, Rosemary actively builds it, serving as a mother, teacher, mentor, and civic activist. Together, they have cultivated a large, close-knit family who share their commitment to public service and civic engagement.
Seeking to change the world, not simply to understand it, Putnam has spoken with scores of political and religious leaders and hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens around the world. His work has profoundly shaped our understanding of social capital and democracy. Putnam continues to inspire new generations of scholars, urging them to embrace the power of community and civic engagement to build a better society.
