Global Civil Society

Global Civil Society

Presence of public-interest-orientated non-governmental actors, civil society group, on the international stage. Emergence facilitated by patterns of globalization.

Civil Society

Space outside of government, family and market where individuals and collective organizations advance allegedly common interests.

Liberals: Civil Society

Bottom-up contribution to the effectiveness and legitimacy of the international system as a whole

• “Democracy in action” where power is held to account by the populace 

Realists: Civil Society 

A tool used by the most powerful states to promote ideas key to their national interests abroad 

Marxist: Civil Society

Political vanguards capable of spreading different world view that challenges the dominant order

Transnational Network

Permanent co-ordination between different civil society organizations (maybe individuals), located in several countries focused on specific global issues 

• Responses to new global socio-political environment

• Limited political life = made to respond to a specific issue 

• Providing space for actors for those who are normaly marginalized 

Civil Society Organizations 

Organizations that exists in the space outside of government, family, and market. Individuals and collective organizations advance allegedly common interests, public interests

• Community groups and NGOs

• Social movements 

• Charitable organizations

• Diaspora groups 

• Political parties/private companies 

Transnational mobilization

Complex process through which civil society actors initiate action on a global issue

• Present the issue at stake in such a way that it is perceived as problematic, urgent and also soluble: Production of knowledge

• External dissemination and strategic use of such knowledge 

• Gaining a recognized role in the public sphere as a rightful advocate of general interests

• Ex: Anti-death penalty campaign

Accountability deficits 

Fundamental problem suffered by most global governance bodies that lack traditional formal mechanisms of democratic accountability that is found in states

• Bureaucrats that are far removed from the decisions that they make on behalf of the general public