Civil Society 

Civil Society

“Defining the meaning of civil society is difficult because the term is laden with theoretical assumptions, unsolved problems and value judgements” (Ottoway, 2005).

Defining Civil Society

• Although definitions change throughout history, civil society at its core is the space between kingship and the state.
• Civil society is not the whole society.
  • It is part of the entire web of social institutions and relations.
• Concrete meaning has been given through international assistance agencies and by efforts from civil society organizations.
• Founded, based on, or promotes very positive citizenship values and public interest.
• Question: Is it valid to draw a conceptual distinction between civil and political society?
• There is no such thing as involuntary membership in civil society
• Three important problems in the meaning of civil society:

1. The assumption that in a civil society, it is purely voluntary.
2. The consideration of organization between the family and the state as civil, relating to the public, citizens, and values.
3. The distinction between civil and political society.

Traditional civil society

• Exists in all countries but not all perform traditional functions.
• Characteristics of a civil society:
  • Informal to highly structured; commonly organized as networks, and strongly community sanctioned.
  • Less specialized; no officers typically exist in communities.
  • Perform important economic activities, or “local security functions.”
  • Alleviate problems created by a weakness of a state, but also prevents the strengthening of a state.

Modern civil society

• A collective noun; synonymous with the voluntary sector, advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, social movements, human rights organizations, and more that are involved in change work. (Rooy, 2014).
• Characteristics of a modern civil society:
  • Formalized/specialized in functions.
  • Professionalized, and have full-time organizers.
  • Plays a crucial role in service provision.

The expansion of civil society

• Spontaneous efforts of citizen organization.
  • The creation of an independent space outside the control of the state.
  • To escape political oppression, and improve their own living conditions.
• External assistance by international agencies, private organizations, and national donors.
  • Boosts the available resources to indigenous or non-profit organizations.
• Government-fostered growth in voluntary sector.
  • Through the contracting of public services.
  • Through increasing involvement of non-governmental organization and the church in development programs.

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