Rightly fearing that unscrupulous rulers would break them up, seize their reserves or submit them to damaging forms of intervention, strong networks of trust, such as kinship groups, clandestine religious sects and trade diasporas, have historically insulated themselves from political control by a variety of strategies. Drawing on a vast range of comparisons over time and space, Tilly (social science, Columbia U.) examines the ways members of trust networks have evaded, compromised with or even aligned themselves with political regimes. His study of the evolution of trust networks into different political forms contributes to a more comprehensive view of democratization and de-democratization. Annotation #169;2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Making the point that trust is not merely impersonal but also structural, Tilly (Columbia Univ.) sets out in this little book to illustrate that structures of trust may also be found in networks. Early networks were based on religion, language, and kinship. Tilly points out that as states became more democratized, they developed two kinds of organizations that also may have been active in developing trust networks. These two types--those with an authoritative basis and those that are more collaborative--may be ideals, because their overlapping forms of authority and collaboration may historically muddy the waters. Important for readers is the point that trust networks can shrivel and die, or transform themselves under the aegis of the state through coercion, capital, or commitment. Some of the forces are migratory chains, trade diasporas, and intentional communities. In writing about commitment, Tilly says that these may operate at the interpersonal level, but at the structural level, one may find other entities. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. Upper-division Undergraduates; Graduate Students; Researchers/Faculty; Professionals/Practitioners. Reviewed by L. Sabaratnam. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Charles Tilly is currently the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professor of Social Science at Columbia University Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Preface	xi
1 Relations of Trust and Distrust	1
2 How and Why Trust Networks Work	30
3 Transformations of Trust Networks	52
4 Trust Networks Versus Predators	79
5 From Segregation to Integration	100
6 Trust and Democratization	125
7 Future Trust Networks	151
References	163

Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.