Institutions rest on habits: how citizens treat public office, patronage and the common good. Societal reform is the long work, in families, schools, churches and organisations, that makes institutional reform hold.
In brief
- Civic culture as the ground institutions stand on.
- Schools, churches and organisations as partners.
- Patience: reform measured in years, not news cycles.
For discussion
Which civic habit, if changed, would make every other reform easier?