View source for Civil society

{{SocPsy}}
'''Civil society''' is composed of the totality of voluntary civic and social organizations and institutions that form the basis of a functioning [[society]] as opposed to the force-backed structures of a [[sovereign state|state]] (regardless of that state's political system) and commercial institutions.
==Origin==
The term is often traced to [[Adam Ferguson]], who saw the development of a "commercial state" as a way to change the corrupt feudal order and strengthen the liberty of the individual.<ref>[http://oll.libertyfund.org/Home3/Book.php?recordID=1229 An Essay on the History of Civil Society], 1767</ref> While Ferguson did not draw a line between the state and the society,  [[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel]], a [[Germany|German]] [[philosophy|philosopher]], made this distinction in his ''[[Elements of the Philosophy of Right]]'' <ref> [http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/pr/preface.htm Etext of Philosophy of Right Hegel, 1827 (translated by Dyde, 1897)] </ref>. In this work, civil society (Hegel used the term "buergerliche Gesellschaft" though it is now referred to as ''Zivilgesellschaft'' in [[German language|German]] to emphasize a more inclusive community) was a stage on the [[dialectical|dialectical relationship]] between Hegel's perceived opposites, the macro-community of the [[state]] and the micro-community of the [[family]] <ref> Pelczynski, A.Z.; 1984; 'The Significane of Hegel's speration of the state and civil society' pp1-13 in Pelczynski, A.Z. (ed.); 1984; ''The State and Civil Society''; Cambridge University Press </ref>. Broadly speaking, the term was split, like Hegel's followers, to the [[political left]] and [[political right|right]]. On the left, it became the foundation for [[Karl Marx]]'s [[bourgeoise|bourgeois society]] <ref> ''[[ibid]]'' </ref>; to the right it became a description for all non-state aspects of society, expanding out of the [[economic]] rigidity of [[Marxism]] into [[culture]], [[society]] and [[politics]] <ref> ''ibid'' </ref>

==Definition==
There are myriad definitions of ''civil society''. The [[London School of Economics]] Centre for Civil Society working definition is illustrative:

<blockquote>Civil society refers to the arena of uncoerced [[collective action]] around shared [[special interest|interests]], purposes and [[values]]. In theory, its institutional forms are distinct from those of the [[state]], [[family]] and [[market]], though in practice, the boundaries between state, civil society, family and market are often complex, blurred and negotiated. Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms, varying in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Civil societies are often populated by organisations such as registered charities, development non-governmental organisations, community groups, women's organisations, faith-based organisations, professional associations, [[labor union|trade unions]], self-help groups, [[social movement]]s, business associations, coalitions and advocacy groups.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CCS/what_is_civil_society.htm |title=What is civil society? |publisher=Centre for Civil Society, London School of Economics |accessdate=2006-10-30 |date=2004-03-01}}</ref></blockquote>

==Civil society and democracy==

The literature on links between civil society and democracy have their root in early liberal writings like those of [[Tocqueville]]. However they were developed in significant ways by 20th century theorists like [[Gabriel Almond]] and [[Sidney Verba]], who identified the role of civil society in a democratic order as vital <ref> Almond, G., & Verba, S.; 'The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes And Democracy In Five Nations; 1989; Sage</ref>.

They argued that the political element of many civil society organisations facilitates better awareness and a more informed citizenry, who make better voting choices, participate in politics, and hold government more accountable as a result <ref>'ibid'</ref>.  The statutes of these organizations have often been considered micro-constitutions because they accustom participants to the formalities of democratic decision making.

More recently, [[Robert Putnam]] has argued that even non-political organisations in civil society are vital for democracy. This is because they build [[social capital]], trust and shared values, which are transferred into the political sphere and help to hold society together, facilitating an understanding of the interconnectedness of society and interests within it <ref> Putnam, R.; Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions In Modern Italy; 1993; Princeton</ref>. 

Others, however, have questioned how democratic civil society actually is. Some have noted that the civil society actors have now obtained a remarkable amount of political [[Power (sociology)|power]] without anyone directly electing or appointing them <ref> Agnew, John; 2002; 'Democracy and Human Rights' in Johnston, R.J., Taylor, Peter J. and Watts, Michael J. (eds); 2002; ''Geographies of Global Change''; Blackwell </ref>. Finally, other scholars have argued  that, since the concept of civil society is closely related to democracy and representation, it should in turn be linked with ideas of nationality and nationalism <ref> Pollock, Graham.'Civil Society Theory and Euro-Nationalism' , Studies In Social & Political Thought, Issue 4, March 2001, pp. 31-56 </ref>.

==Civil society and globalization: Global Civil Society ==

The term civil society is currently often used by critics and activists as a reference to sources of resistance to and the domain of social life which needs to be protected against [[globalization]]. This is because it is seen as acting beyond boundaries and across different territories <ref> Mann, Michael; 1984; The Autonomous Power of The State: Its Origins, Mechanisms and Results; European Journal of Sociology 25: pp185-213 </ref>. However, as civil society can, under many definitions, include and be funded and directed by those businesses and institutions (especially donors linked to European and Northern states) who support [[globalization]], this is a contested use <ref> [http://www.un.org/partners/civil_society/home.htm United Nations: Partners in Civil Society] </ref>. 

On the other hand, others see [[globalization]] as a social phenomenon bringing [[classical liberal]] values which inevitably lead to  a larger role for civil society at the expense of politically derived state institutions.

{{Sectstub}}

==Examples of civil society institutions== 

*[[academia]]
*[[charitable organization|charities]]
*[[citizen]]s' [[militia]]
*civic groups
*clubs (sports, social, etc.)
*[[community foundations]]
*community leadership development programs
*community organizations
*consumers/consumer organizations
*[[cooperative]]s
*cultural groups
*[[environmentalism|environment]]al groups
*intermediary organizations for the voluntary and non-profit sector 
*[[mass media|media]]
*[[non-governmental organizations]] (NGOs) 
*[[non-profit organization]]s (NPOs)
*policy institutions
*[[private voluntary organization]]s (PVOs)
*professional associations
*religious organizations
*[[labor union|trade unions]]

Whether all of these institutions are by definition part of civil society is up for debate. Neera Chandhoke, a scientist from India, thinks not. She concludes that only institutions that are critical of the state are the real thing, while the rest are merely not governmental{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. The key here is that not every institution is a 'countervailing power' to the state. In [[developing countries]], civil society is very popular with aid donors with left and right leanings. But very often mock civil society organisations exist (including those that support and which are critical of neo-liberalism) that serve only to gain access to [[development aid]] or to provide the illusion of popular support for Northern political projects.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.

==Some noted scholars of civil society==

*[[Daniel Bell]]
*[[Robert N. Bellah]]
*[[Don E. Eberly]]
*[[Michael Edwards]]
*[[Jean Bethke Elshtain]]
*[[Amitai Etzioni]]
*[[Francis Fukuyama]]
*[[Antonio Gramsci]]
*[[Jürgen Habermas]]
*[[Patrick Hunout]]
*[[Peter Dobkin Hall]]
*[[Barry Dean Karl]]
*[[John Keane]]
*[[David Korten]]
*[[Kathleen McCarthy]]
*[[Frank Moulaert]]
*[[Philipp Oxhorn]]
*[[Michael O'Neill (educator)|Michael O'Neill]]
*[[Elinor Ostrom]]
*[[Robert Pekkanen]]
*[[Robert Putnam]]
*[[Nancy L. Rosenblum]]
*[[Lester M. Salamon]]
*[[Michael Sandel]]
*[[Benjamin Barber]]

==See also==
*[[List of politics-related topics]]

*[[Civics]]
*[[Civilisation]]
*[[Civil religion]]
*[[Communitarianism]]
*[[Cosmopolitan democracy]]
*[[DEMOLOGOS]]
*[[Global governance]]
*[[KATARSIS]]
*[[Mass society]]
*[[Non-governmental organizations]]
**[[Consultative Status|NGOs in Consultative Status]]
*[[Open society]]
*[[Political science]]
*[[public administration]]
*[[Social capital]]
*[[Social economy]]
*[[social entrepreneurship]]
*[[social innovation]]
*[[Sociology]]
*[[power (sociology)|Power]]
*[[Yearbook of International Organizations]]

== Notes ==
<references />

== References ==
* Alagappa, Muthiah. ''Civil Society and Political Change in Asia''. Stanford: Standford University Press, 2004. ISBN 0-8047-5097-1
* Edwards, Michael. ''Civil Society''.  Cambridge, England: Polity Press, 2004.  ISBN 0-7456-3133-9.
* O'Connell, Brian. ''Civil Society: The Underpinnings of American Democracy''. Medford, Mass: Tufts University Press, 1999. ISBN 0-87451-924-1.
* Pollock, Graham.[http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/SPT/journal/archive/pdf/issue4-3.pdf 'Civil Society Theory and Euro-Nationalism'] , ''Studies In Social & Political Thought'', Issue 4, March 2001, pp. 31-56
* Hemmati, Minu. Dodds, Felix. Enayati, Jasmin. and McHarry,Jan [http://www.earthsummit2002.org/msp/book.html downloadable copy of Multistakeholder Processes for Governance and Sustainability:Beyond Deadlock and Conflict]

==External links==

*[http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CCS/ LSE Centre for Civil Society]
*[http://www.gradewinner.com/p/articles/mi_qa3996/is_200404/ai_n9376554?pi=gdw Civil Society in the Post-Communist Context: Linking Theoretical Concept and Social Transformation] by Tanya Narozhna
*[http://www-hoover.stanford.edu/publications/he/21/c.html The Western Concept of the Civil Society in the Context of Chinese History] by [[Thomas Metzger]]
*[http://www.un.org/issues/ngo/ngoindex.html UN relations with Civil Society (NGO's)]
*[http://www.un.org/partners/business/index.asp UN relations with Civil Society (Businesses)]
*[http://www.unep.org/civil_society/gcsf/ UNEP Global Civil Society Forum].
*[http://ec.europa.eu/civil_society/index.htm EU relations with Civil Society]
*[http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/dfidwork/civilsociety.asp UK DFID relations with Civil Society]
*[http://www.pcdf.org/civilsociety/default.htm Global civil society (PCDF)].
*Cox, P., N. Shams, G. Jahn, P. Erickson and P. Hicks. 2002.  [http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/regionalSites/cambodia/docs/cmJournalAg.pdf Building collaboration between NGOs and agricultural research institutes.]   Cambodian Journal of Agriculture 6: 1-8. 
*[http://www.wiserearth.org/ WiserEarth.org - World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility] - formerly www.civilsociety.org.
*[http://www.stakeholderforum.org/1index.php Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future engagement in UN stakeholder relations]

[[Category:Non-profit organizations]]
[[Category:Charities]]
[[Category:Voluntary organisations]]
[[Category:Community building|Civil society]]
[[Category:Public administration]]
[[Category:civil society|civil society]]
[[Category:Social economy]]

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