UFO Phil, is a novelty singer-songwriter and purveyor of short films. He is also a regular on the nationally syndicated radio program Coast to Coast AM with George Noory, appearing frequently as a guest and contributor. He is also credited as the singer of the song "Listening to Coast to Coast", which is often heard at the end of the program.
UFO Phil is a recurring guest on The Hideout and The Ron and Fez Show, both of which air on XM Satellite Radio. He also makes appearances on other radio and television programs throughout the United States and other countries.
UFO Phil's song "Aliens Really Stink" was a novelty hit on the Dr. Demento Show, charting on the program's Funny Five Countdown. The song was also featured on the CD "Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes Number 14". During a 2005 radio interview, UFO Phil claimed to have recorded the song during a live coffee shop appearance in downtown Roswell. Other notable songs include "Anakin", a tribute to Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith, which also charted on the Dr. Demento countdown and appeared on other radio programs across the United States.
On May 2, 2008, UFO Phil appeared live with television host Tom Green during Green's live internet video feed from Spokane, Washington. Green was shooting a segment with UFO Phil for the upcoming season of his television show Tom Green's House Tonight. The segment is scheduled to air on The Comedy Channel during the 2008 Fall TV Season. Reference to this appearance can be found at Green's internet site.
Background
There seems to be controversy within certain internet chatrooms and message boards over whether UFO Phil is a real person or an imagined character created for entertainment purposes. It is a question which has also been raised by callers of Coast to Coast AM. Some believe the whole persona of UFO Phil is reminiscent of the practical jokes of Andy Kaufman, or the antics of Paul Reubens as he portrayed Pee Wee Herman. This is not to imply that UFO Phil is merely a copy of his comedic predecessors. Indeed, the world of UFO Phil is a completely original universe which arguably took inspiration from the successes of these earlier humorists.
According to his autobiography, Phil Hill was born in the early 1970s in a rural farm area northwest of Roswell, NM. The nickname UFO Phil has remained with him for years because of his claims to have the ability to commune with extraterrestrial life. Phil also claims to be a victim of the alien abduction phenomenon.
According to his story, aliens implanted him with a small chip which gave him a heightened musical ability. UFO Phil maintains his alien abductors expect him to spread their message through his music. His songs include "Aliens Really Stink", "Martian Independence Day", and "Dear George Lucas", a tribute to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. His music has been described as a cross between They Might Be Giants, The Presidents of the United States of America and Weird Al Yankovic, with just a little bit of Rush thrown in at times.
UFO Phil is also famous for making outrageous claims during interviews and on his website. In 2004, he claimed that hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico were created by giant alien blenders hiding under the water. In 2006, on the popular radio show Coast to Coast AM, he told host George Noory he accidentally cloned a cat while attempting to operate a malfunctioning time machine (although the clone apparently looked nothing like the original). This is apparently the same time machine which Phil had previously described as being housed in the remains of a vintage Cold War era bomb shelter.
Starting in October 2005, reports began to circulate that UFO Phil had been killed in a bizarre house fire. He eventually appeared on the radio on The Hideout on WTKS in Orlando, Florida and explained that he was alive but that his HDTV set had exploded causing his house to catch fire. He further explained that the HDTV had been delivered by evil alien agents for the purpose of his destruction. UFO Phil believes that aliens can use television to watch us in our homes and that HDTV sets allow them to see us even more clearly than before.
On September 15th, 2007, UFO Phil appeared live in the studios of the popular radio show Coast to Coast AM. During his appearance, Phil explained that he had mysteriously been teleported into the studio. He then performed a live, acoustic version of his song called "Listening to Coast to Coast".
UFO Phil currently resides on Mount Spokane in eastern Washington and has been spotted with his film crew working in the city of Spokane.
UFO Phil: The Movie
In October 2006, pre-production work began on a feature-length UFO Phil movie to be filmed in Roswell, NM, near Area 51, Los Angeles, CA and Spokane, WA.
According to UFO Phil's website, the first day of filming was Thursday January 25th, 2007. During filming, UFO Phil and his crew were thrown out of the Home Depot store in Liberty Lake, Washington and the Spokane Valley Mall in Spokane Valley, Washington.
The film is apparently somewhat reality-based. It has been described as a year in the life of UFO Phil. Camera crews will follow UFO Phil around as he explores UFO Phenomenon and works on his new album of original music. The working title for the film is UFO Phil: The Movie.
Reference to the production of this film can be found at the UFO Phil website, specifically in his forums.
The film's producers are also posting short excerpts of the movie on YouTube.
Unauthorized use of the UFO Phil character?
Phil the Alien - In the summer of 2004, a film was released in Canada called Phil the Alien. In the film, an alien named Phil crashes on Earth and eventually becomes a rock singer. It is possible that the film's producers used UFO Phil as inspiration for this movie.
Phil of the Future - This Disney Channel program also debuted in the summer of 2004. Although there are similarities in theme between this show and the life and films of UFO Phil (ie. time travel), it is possible this is just a coincidence.
Radio and Television appearances
The following is a list of known programs that UFO Phil has appeared on:
*Coast to Coast AM with George Noory
*Tom Green's House Tonight with Tom Green, recorded May 2, 2008
*The Dr Demento Show
*The Bruce Maiman Show on KFBK in Sacramento, California
*The Jason McCollim Show on KKZX in Spokane, Washington February 13, 2007. This appearance was filmed and will be featured in UFO Phil: The Movie
*Mancow in July 2005. Mancow interviewed UFO Phil and played "Martian Independence Day"
*Ron and Fez, both on WJFK and on XM Satellite Radio
*The Hideout on both WJFK and WTKS in Orlando
*The Liz Wilde Show on WRXK
*John and Jeff on KLSX & in syndication (two known appearances)
*The Mark & Brian Show on KLOS (one known appearance in 2005 talking about a piece of "alien art")
*Dr. Maimes in the Morning on KDON, WKRQ, KBTU & KCCL
*The Jay Thomas Show on Sirius Satellite Radio
*Capital Gold in London UFO Phil was interviewed by Paul Coyte and sang "Aliens Really Stink" acapella
*2CC Radio in Canberra, Australia July 2005, interviewed by Mike Jeffreys
*The Gary Bryan Show on KJR FM in Seattle, Washington (countless appearances in 1998)
*KBIU FM in Lake Charles, Louisiana (countless appearances from 2000-2002)
*KJEF Cajun Country 92.9 FM in Lake Charles, Louisiana at least one appearance in 2000
*KISC FM in Spokane, Washington on the night show (three known appearances in 2002)
*97.2 Stray FM in Harrogate, United Kingdom (one known appearance in 1999)
*The Eagle Morning Show on KISE FM in Monterey, California (several appearances in 1998)
*"Bulldog and the Rude Awakening" Show on Ocean 98 WOCM in Maryland Aug 3, 2005
*AM 1600 WRPN in Ripon, Wisconsin July 26, 2005 interview on the morning program
*Froggy 103 in Murray, Kentucky interview with Kelly Green on the morning show July 25, 2005
*The "Joe and the Poorboy" show on Z-93 in Saginaw, Michigan July 25, 2005
*The Asylum on ThereIsNoRadio (two known appearances)
*An exclusive UFO Phil program called "The UFO Phil Experience" on ThereIsNoRadio (2/4/06)
* A follow-up to "The UFO Phil Experience", called "UFO Phil's Radio Abduction" on ThereIsNoRadio (2/25/06)
UFO Phil is a recurring guest on The Hideout and The Ron and Fez Show, both of which air on XM Satellite Radio. He also makes appearances on other radio and television programs throughout the United States and other countries.
UFO Phil's song "Aliens Really Stink" was a novelty hit on the Dr. Demento Show, charting on the program's Funny Five Countdown. The song was also featured on the CD "Dr. Demento's Basement Tapes Number 14". During a 2005 radio interview, UFO Phil claimed to have recorded the song during a live coffee shop appearance in downtown Roswell. Other notable songs include "Anakin", a tribute to Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith, which also charted on the Dr. Demento countdown and appeared on other radio programs across the United States.
On May 2, 2008, UFO Phil appeared live with television host Tom Green during Green's live internet video feed from Spokane, Washington. Green was shooting a segment with UFO Phil for the upcoming season of his television show Tom Green's House Tonight. The segment is scheduled to air on The Comedy Channel during the 2008 Fall TV Season. Reference to this appearance can be found at Green's internet site.
Background
There seems to be controversy within certain internet chatrooms and message boards over whether UFO Phil is a real person or an imagined character created for entertainment purposes. It is a question which has also been raised by callers of Coast to Coast AM. Some believe the whole persona of UFO Phil is reminiscent of the practical jokes of Andy Kaufman, or the antics of Paul Reubens as he portrayed Pee Wee Herman. This is not to imply that UFO Phil is merely a copy of his comedic predecessors. Indeed, the world of UFO Phil is a completely original universe which arguably took inspiration from the successes of these earlier humorists.
According to his autobiography, Phil Hill was born in the early 1970s in a rural farm area northwest of Roswell, NM. The nickname UFO Phil has remained with him for years because of his claims to have the ability to commune with extraterrestrial life. Phil also claims to be a victim of the alien abduction phenomenon.
According to his story, aliens implanted him with a small chip which gave him a heightened musical ability. UFO Phil maintains his alien abductors expect him to spread their message through his music. His songs include "Aliens Really Stink", "Martian Independence Day", and "Dear George Lucas", a tribute to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. His music has been described as a cross between They Might Be Giants, The Presidents of the United States of America and Weird Al Yankovic, with just a little bit of Rush thrown in at times.
UFO Phil is also famous for making outrageous claims during interviews and on his website. In 2004, he claimed that hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico were created by giant alien blenders hiding under the water. In 2006, on the popular radio show Coast to Coast AM, he told host George Noory he accidentally cloned a cat while attempting to operate a malfunctioning time machine (although the clone apparently looked nothing like the original). This is apparently the same time machine which Phil had previously described as being housed in the remains of a vintage Cold War era bomb shelter.
Starting in October 2005, reports began to circulate that UFO Phil had been killed in a bizarre house fire. He eventually appeared on the radio on The Hideout on WTKS in Orlando, Florida and explained that he was alive but that his HDTV set had exploded causing his house to catch fire. He further explained that the HDTV had been delivered by evil alien agents for the purpose of his destruction. UFO Phil believes that aliens can use television to watch us in our homes and that HDTV sets allow them to see us even more clearly than before.
On September 15th, 2007, UFO Phil appeared live in the studios of the popular radio show Coast to Coast AM. During his appearance, Phil explained that he had mysteriously been teleported into the studio. He then performed a live, acoustic version of his song called "Listening to Coast to Coast".
UFO Phil currently resides on Mount Spokane in eastern Washington and has been spotted with his film crew working in the city of Spokane.
UFO Phil: The Movie
In October 2006, pre-production work began on a feature-length UFO Phil movie to be filmed in Roswell, NM, near Area 51, Los Angeles, CA and Spokane, WA.
According to UFO Phil's website, the first day of filming was Thursday January 25th, 2007. During filming, UFO Phil and his crew were thrown out of the Home Depot store in Liberty Lake, Washington and the Spokane Valley Mall in Spokane Valley, Washington.
The film is apparently somewhat reality-based. It has been described as a year in the life of UFO Phil. Camera crews will follow UFO Phil around as he explores UFO Phenomenon and works on his new album of original music. The working title for the film is UFO Phil: The Movie.
Reference to the production of this film can be found at the UFO Phil website, specifically in his forums.
The film's producers are also posting short excerpts of the movie on YouTube.
Unauthorized use of the UFO Phil character?
Phil the Alien - In the summer of 2004, a film was released in Canada called Phil the Alien. In the film, an alien named Phil crashes on Earth and eventually becomes a rock singer. It is possible that the film's producers used UFO Phil as inspiration for this movie.
Phil of the Future - This Disney Channel program also debuted in the summer of 2004. Although there are similarities in theme between this show and the life and films of UFO Phil (ie. time travel), it is possible this is just a coincidence.
Radio and Television appearances
The following is a list of known programs that UFO Phil has appeared on:
*Coast to Coast AM with George Noory
*Tom Green's House Tonight with Tom Green, recorded May 2, 2008
*The Dr Demento Show
*The Bruce Maiman Show on KFBK in Sacramento, California
*The Jason McCollim Show on KKZX in Spokane, Washington February 13, 2007. This appearance was filmed and will be featured in UFO Phil: The Movie
*Mancow in July 2005. Mancow interviewed UFO Phil and played "Martian Independence Day"
*Ron and Fez, both on WJFK and on XM Satellite Radio
*The Hideout on both WJFK and WTKS in Orlando
*The Liz Wilde Show on WRXK
*John and Jeff on KLSX & in syndication (two known appearances)
*The Mark & Brian Show on KLOS (one known appearance in 2005 talking about a piece of "alien art")
*Dr. Maimes in the Morning on KDON, WKRQ, KBTU & KCCL
*The Jay Thomas Show on Sirius Satellite Radio
*Capital Gold in London UFO Phil was interviewed by Paul Coyte and sang "Aliens Really Stink" acapella
*2CC Radio in Canberra, Australia July 2005, interviewed by Mike Jeffreys
*The Gary Bryan Show on KJR FM in Seattle, Washington (countless appearances in 1998)
*KBIU FM in Lake Charles, Louisiana (countless appearances from 2000-2002)
*KJEF Cajun Country 92.9 FM in Lake Charles, Louisiana at least one appearance in 2000
*KISC FM in Spokane, Washington on the night show (three known appearances in 2002)
*97.2 Stray FM in Harrogate, United Kingdom (one known appearance in 1999)
*The Eagle Morning Show on KISE FM in Monterey, California (several appearances in 1998)
*"Bulldog and the Rude Awakening" Show on Ocean 98 WOCM in Maryland Aug 3, 2005
*AM 1600 WRPN in Ripon, Wisconsin July 26, 2005 interview on the morning program
*Froggy 103 in Murray, Kentucky interview with Kelly Green on the morning show July 25, 2005
*The "Joe and the Poorboy" show on Z-93 in Saginaw, Michigan July 25, 2005
*The Asylum on ThereIsNoRadio (two known appearances)
*An exclusive UFO Phil program called "The UFO Phil Experience" on ThereIsNoRadio (2/4/06)
* A follow-up to "The UFO Phil Experience", called "UFO Phil's Radio Abduction" on ThereIsNoRadio (2/25/06)
Patrick Hunout is a researcher and policymaker who in 1999 created The International Scope Review, a peer-reviewed academic journal in the economic and social sciences.
His work explores the formation of what he called a New Leviathan around the hypothesis that the upper class of society seeks to build a new order based on less equality and less democracy.
His model suggests that the strategies carried forward by the New Leviathan link intimately the economic, ethnic, and interpersonal fields. These strategies consist in developing economic flexibility and precariousness, promoting migrations and a multiethnic society, and pushing forward individualist,hedonist and consumerist values. In a last resort, they design a weak society, enslaved to market values and governmental controls rendered necessary by the increasing incapacity of an atomized social body to manage itself.
The strategies carried forward by the ruling class explain most contemporary difficulties; if they would be inverted, a huge improvement would follow.
Patrick Hunout is the President and the Founder of The Social Capital Foundation, created 2002, the aim of which is to help restore, revitalize and strengthen the social link in Europe. The Social Capital Foundation proposes to counter the policies of the New Leviathan by consolidating the community spirit, developing a democratic middle-class centered society, promoting an equitable share of wealth, protecting cultural identity against mass migrations, and strengthening shared values within the social body.
Bibliography
* (en) The Destruction of Society: Challenging the 'Modern' Triptyque: Individualism, Hedonism, Consumerism, with Didier Le Gall and Brent Shea (The International Scope Review, Issue 9, Volume 5, 2003), ISSN 1374-1217
*(en) Referring Governments to the Community: Henry David Thoreau Revisited, with Maya David and Jean Dewitt (The International Scope Review, Issue 12, Volume 7, 2005)
*(de) Immigration und Identität in Deutschland und Frankreich, The International Scope Review, 1999, deutsche Fassung
* Droit du travail et psychologie sociale (Klincksieck, 1990, 2002) ASIN 2865632628
* L’Entreprise et le droit du travail : Une comparaison franco-allemande (CIRAC, 1993) (ISBN 2905518251)
* Droit du travail et culture sociale : L'exemple allemand (L’Harmattan, 2000) (ISBN 2738477852)
* « Conseils de prud'hommes : un exemple de prise de décision dans un contexte institutionnel », Revue française de sociologie, tome 28, n° 3, 1987, p. 453-481.
* Psychologie judiciaire et droit prud'homal, thèse de 3e cycle, Psychologie, Paris, EHESS, 1985, dact., 522 f°; Paris, Méridiens Klincksieck, 1990, 276 p.
* Droit du travail et psychologie sociale, avec Serge Moscovici, Méridiens Klincksieck, Paris, FRANCE (1990), (Monographie)
* « La psychologie sociale des décisions de justice : une discipline en émergence », Déviance et Société, 1987, vol. XI, n° 3, p. 271-292.
* « Les méthodes d'évaluation des emplois : du classement des emplois à la mesure des compétences », Formation emploi, n° 39, juil.-sept. 1992, pp. 35-43
His work explores the formation of what he called a New Leviathan around the hypothesis that the upper class of society seeks to build a new order based on less equality and less democracy.
His model suggests that the strategies carried forward by the New Leviathan link intimately the economic, ethnic, and interpersonal fields. These strategies consist in developing economic flexibility and precariousness, promoting migrations and a multiethnic society, and pushing forward individualist,hedonist and consumerist values. In a last resort, they design a weak society, enslaved to market values and governmental controls rendered necessary by the increasing incapacity of an atomized social body to manage itself.
The strategies carried forward by the ruling class explain most contemporary difficulties; if they would be inverted, a huge improvement would follow.
Patrick Hunout is the President and the Founder of The Social Capital Foundation, created 2002, the aim of which is to help restore, revitalize and strengthen the social link in Europe. The Social Capital Foundation proposes to counter the policies of the New Leviathan by consolidating the community spirit, developing a democratic middle-class centered society, promoting an equitable share of wealth, protecting cultural identity against mass migrations, and strengthening shared values within the social body.
Bibliography
* (en) The Destruction of Society: Challenging the 'Modern' Triptyque: Individualism, Hedonism, Consumerism, with Didier Le Gall and Brent Shea (The International Scope Review, Issue 9, Volume 5, 2003), ISSN 1374-1217
*(en) Referring Governments to the Community: Henry David Thoreau Revisited, with Maya David and Jean Dewitt (The International Scope Review, Issue 12, Volume 7, 2005)
*(de) Immigration und Identität in Deutschland und Frankreich, The International Scope Review, 1999, deutsche Fassung
* Droit du travail et psychologie sociale (Klincksieck, 1990, 2002) ASIN 2865632628
* L’Entreprise et le droit du travail : Une comparaison franco-allemande (CIRAC, 1993) (ISBN 2905518251)
* Droit du travail et culture sociale : L'exemple allemand (L’Harmattan, 2000) (ISBN 2738477852)
* « Conseils de prud'hommes : un exemple de prise de décision dans un contexte institutionnel », Revue française de sociologie, tome 28, n° 3, 1987, p. 453-481.
* Psychologie judiciaire et droit prud'homal, thèse de 3e cycle, Psychologie, Paris, EHESS, 1985, dact., 522 f°; Paris, Méridiens Klincksieck, 1990, 276 p.
* Droit du travail et psychologie sociale, avec Serge Moscovici, Méridiens Klincksieck, Paris, FRANCE (1990), (Monographie)
* « La psychologie sociale des décisions de justice : une discipline en émergence », Déviance et Société, 1987, vol. XI, n° 3, p. 271-292.
* « Les méthodes d'évaluation des emplois : du classement des emplois à la mesure des compétences », Formation emploi, n° 39, juil.-sept. 1992, pp. 35-43
The Social Capital Foundation (TSCF) is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization that pursues the promotion of social capital and social cohesion. Created in 2002, it is based in Brussels.
Social capital
Social capital is a key concept in economics, organizational behaviour, political science, social psychology, and sociology. Some trace the modern usage of the term to Jane Jacobs in the 1960s, but the first cohesive exposition of the term was by Pierre Bourdieu in 1972 and 1984. James Coleman developed and popularized the concept. In the late 1990s, the concept became respectable, with the World Bank devoting a research programme to it and with its currency in Robert Putnam's 2000 book, Bowling Alone. It was further developed by the work of Patrick Hunout (2003-2004) on the erosion of the social link in the economically developed countries.
TSCF's purpose
TSCF promotes social capital, defined as a set of mental dispositions and attitudes favoring cooperative behaviors within society. In that sense, social capital can be regarded as a semantic equivalent to the community spirit. The community spirit was theorized and enhanced notably by Patrick Hunout, Amitai Etzioni and the Communitarian Network, although the concern raised by the erosion of the community traces back to the fathers of modern sociology such as Ferdinand Tönnies, Georg Simmel, Emile Durkheim or the School of Chicago. TSCF promotes social capital through socio-economic research, publications, and events. The Foundation sets up international conferences on a regular basis.
The International Scope Review
TSCF edits The International Scope Review (TISR), an international academic journal that publishes multidisciplinary research on the contemporary transformations taking place in the industrial countries. By linking three fields: economic relationships, interethnic relationships and interpersonal relationships, TISR attempts to offer a global understanding of the changes in society and the economy.
Created 1999, the journal has delivered 14 issues so far, bearing on societal issues such as (among others) the weakening of the social bond in the developed countries, the definition and measurement of social capital, the links between suicide and individualism, the emergence of the new religions, and the contemporary crisis of the family link, - but also on sociopolitical issues such as the real objectives of European integration, the implications of mass immigration for the Western countries, the possible development of an organised civil society, and tax morale and justice.
TSCF International Conferences
TSCF International Conferences include:
* the 2004 Brussels conference on the Future of Family (Brussels, May 11-13, 2004, "The Future of Family: Recomposition or Decomposition?"),
* the 2005 Malta I conference on Social Capital (Buggiba, September 20-22, 2005, "Social Capital, Definition, Measurement, Applications"),
* the 2008 Malta II conference on Social Inclusion (Buggiba, September 19-22, 2008, "Perspectives on Social Capital and Social Inclusion").
The tripartite model of societal change
TISR is based on the "tripartite model of societal change" elaborated by Dr Patrick Hunout from the years 1995-1996 on. This model became the basis of an international peer-reviewed research publication, The International Scope Review. His work explores the formation of what he called a "New Leviathan" around the hypothesis that the upper class of society seeks to build a new order based on less equality and less democracy.
His model suggests that the strategies carried forward by the "New Leviathan" link intimately the economic, ethnic, and interpersonal fields. These strategies consist in developing economic flexibility and precariousness, promoting migrations and a multiethnic society, and pushing forward individualist, hedonist and consumerist values. In a last resort, they design a weak society, enslaved to market values and governmental controls rendered necessary by the increasing incapacity of an atomized social body to manage itself. This approach suggests that strategies carried forward by the ruling class explain most contemporary difficulties.
Consolidating society through social capital
The response of The Social Capital Foundation, as expressed in various issues of The International Scope Review (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005), to the erosion of the social link consists in expanding social capital.
TSCF's orientation emphasizes:
* The social dimension of the market economy: tempering the effects of the free market on precariousness and social fragility, not through bureaucratic controls, but through the development of "socially responsible corporate policies", of the non-profit economy sector and of a partnership system between employers and employees in the spirit of what has been called "Rhineland capitalism",
* The pivotal role of the middle class in modern society: promoting a society with a large, educated and wealthy middle-class able to play a responsive role in the settlement of issues, in order to favor democratic life, which may have implications for revenues, wage and tax policies, as well as for education and learning practices.
* The necessity for improvement of social cooperation and participation: on the basis of the above, a stronger society would involve a massive reduction in the role of the governments, compensated by a raise in the role of the organized civil society (NGOs and independent organizations). Civic participation in the judicial and governmental institutions would be developed and the legal and tax systems would be democratized.
* The preservation of cultural identity for community integration: migration policies would be restricted and third world socio-economic development policies would take over from them, while the attribution of nationality would be submitted to community approval. Thus TSCF suggested that "mass immigration helps maintain the older systems of governance. Thus, the main objective of this policy rapidly became to reconstruct a new working class, a class that was disappearing since the XIXth century, not only in terms of financial resource level but also in terms of submission to authority and social stratification" (Peace and Conflict Monitor, 09/16/2003).
* Finally, raising the level of social capital would have implications for a wide range of behaviors on a daily basis, such as showing a lesser individualism, developing compromise-readiness, being critical to consumption values, as well as reintroducing congeniality and civility in the family, neighborhood and interpersonal relationships so as to learn again to live together.
Social capital
Social capital is a key concept in economics, organizational behaviour, political science, social psychology, and sociology. Some trace the modern usage of the term to Jane Jacobs in the 1960s, but the first cohesive exposition of the term was by Pierre Bourdieu in 1972 and 1984. James Coleman developed and popularized the concept. In the late 1990s, the concept became respectable, with the World Bank devoting a research programme to it and with its currency in Robert Putnam's 2000 book, Bowling Alone. It was further developed by the work of Patrick Hunout (2003-2004) on the erosion of the social link in the economically developed countries.
TSCF's purpose
TSCF promotes social capital, defined as a set of mental dispositions and attitudes favoring cooperative behaviors within society. In that sense, social capital can be regarded as a semantic equivalent to the community spirit. The community spirit was theorized and enhanced notably by Patrick Hunout, Amitai Etzioni and the Communitarian Network, although the concern raised by the erosion of the community traces back to the fathers of modern sociology such as Ferdinand Tönnies, Georg Simmel, Emile Durkheim or the School of Chicago. TSCF promotes social capital through socio-economic research, publications, and events. The Foundation sets up international conferences on a regular basis.
The International Scope Review
TSCF edits The International Scope Review (TISR), an international academic journal that publishes multidisciplinary research on the contemporary transformations taking place in the industrial countries. By linking three fields: economic relationships, interethnic relationships and interpersonal relationships, TISR attempts to offer a global understanding of the changes in society and the economy.
Created 1999, the journal has delivered 14 issues so far, bearing on societal issues such as (among others) the weakening of the social bond in the developed countries, the definition and measurement of social capital, the links between suicide and individualism, the emergence of the new religions, and the contemporary crisis of the family link, - but also on sociopolitical issues such as the real objectives of European integration, the implications of mass immigration for the Western countries, the possible development of an organised civil society, and tax morale and justice.
TSCF International Conferences
TSCF International Conferences include:
* the 2004 Brussels conference on the Future of Family (Brussels, May 11-13, 2004, "The Future of Family: Recomposition or Decomposition?"),
* the 2005 Malta I conference on Social Capital (Buggiba, September 20-22, 2005, "Social Capital, Definition, Measurement, Applications"),
* the 2008 Malta II conference on Social Inclusion (Buggiba, September 19-22, 2008, "Perspectives on Social Capital and Social Inclusion").
The tripartite model of societal change
TISR is based on the "tripartite model of societal change" elaborated by Dr Patrick Hunout from the years 1995-1996 on. This model became the basis of an international peer-reviewed research publication, The International Scope Review. His work explores the formation of what he called a "New Leviathan" around the hypothesis that the upper class of society seeks to build a new order based on less equality and less democracy.
His model suggests that the strategies carried forward by the "New Leviathan" link intimately the economic, ethnic, and interpersonal fields. These strategies consist in developing economic flexibility and precariousness, promoting migrations and a multiethnic society, and pushing forward individualist, hedonist and consumerist values. In a last resort, they design a weak society, enslaved to market values and governmental controls rendered necessary by the increasing incapacity of an atomized social body to manage itself. This approach suggests that strategies carried forward by the ruling class explain most contemporary difficulties.
Consolidating society through social capital
The response of The Social Capital Foundation, as expressed in various issues of The International Scope Review (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005), to the erosion of the social link consists in expanding social capital.
TSCF's orientation emphasizes:
* The social dimension of the market economy: tempering the effects of the free market on precariousness and social fragility, not through bureaucratic controls, but through the development of "socially responsible corporate policies", of the non-profit economy sector and of a partnership system between employers and employees in the spirit of what has been called "Rhineland capitalism",
* The pivotal role of the middle class in modern society: promoting a society with a large, educated and wealthy middle-class able to play a responsive role in the settlement of issues, in order to favor democratic life, which may have implications for revenues, wage and tax policies, as well as for education and learning practices.
* The necessity for improvement of social cooperation and participation: on the basis of the above, a stronger society would involve a massive reduction in the role of the governments, compensated by a raise in the role of the organized civil society (NGOs and independent organizations). Civic participation in the judicial and governmental institutions would be developed and the legal and tax systems would be democratized.
* The preservation of cultural identity for community integration: migration policies would be restricted and third world socio-economic development policies would take over from them, while the attribution of nationality would be submitted to community approval. Thus TSCF suggested that "mass immigration helps maintain the older systems of governance. Thus, the main objective of this policy rapidly became to reconstruct a new working class, a class that was disappearing since the XIXth century, not only in terms of financial resource level but also in terms of submission to authority and social stratification" (Peace and Conflict Monitor, 09/16/2003).
* Finally, raising the level of social capital would have implications for a wide range of behaviors on a daily basis, such as showing a lesser individualism, developing compromise-readiness, being critical to consumption values, as well as reintroducing congeniality and civility in the family, neighborhood and interpersonal relationships so as to learn again to live together.
The International Scope Review (TISR) is an international academic journal that publishes multidisciplinary research on the contemporary transformations taking place in the industrial countries.
It tries to link three fields: the economy, ethnnicity, and interpersonal relationships, and thereby offer an understanding of a changing society. Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural, the journal is a response to the need for a platform for launching and learning innovative ideas. The Review welcomes contributions that suggest alternative understandings and strategies to improve our ability to overcome contemporary challenges.
While its review criteria are in accordance with the best academic standards, the journal addresses a broad public who wishes to understand better the world in which it is living and acting.
The Review was created by Dr Patrick Hunout, The Social Capital Foundation, who inspired the central TISR model.
He is supported by a European, Asian and American team reflecting a wide range of disciplines and interests.
It tries to link three fields: the economy, ethnnicity, and interpersonal relationships, and thereby offer an understanding of a changing society. Interdisciplinary and cross-cultural, the journal is a response to the need for a platform for launching and learning innovative ideas. The Review welcomes contributions that suggest alternative understandings and strategies to improve our ability to overcome contemporary challenges.
While its review criteria are in accordance with the best academic standards, the journal addresses a broad public who wishes to understand better the world in which it is living and acting.
The Review was created by Dr Patrick Hunout, The Social Capital Foundation, who inspired the central TISR model.
He is supported by a European, Asian and American team reflecting a wide range of disciplines and interests.