“Civil society” has long been a term used to describe the accumulation of voluntary social, civic, religious, and/or charitable organizations within a given political context. In this view, “civil society” is defined in contrast to the “state” and to the "market". That is, while civil society is characterized by consent, the state is characterized by coercion and the market by exchange. Many social scientists and political theorists, including Robert Putnam, Benjamin Barber, and Francis Fukuyama (to name a few) have explored the concept of civil society. Some discussions suggest there can never be “too much” of it, while at the same time civil society always seems to be under attack by forces of the state, the Global Market, and international political organizations.
This understanding, however, falls short in unraveling the complex intersections that exist between these different sectors, and as a result, may not offer a clear understanding of corruption, government collaboration, and charitable organizations and foundations that cross borders.
Civil society, in a general sense, should be seen as a space of discussion, debate, and collaboration. It is not simply an amalgamation of nonprofit organizations, but the terrain upon which these networks interact with the rest of society and the state.
Resources:
In addition here are some links to selected theoretical works on the subject:
- Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, ch. 13-15, 22, at:
http://www.orst.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/hobbes/leviathan-contents.html
- Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/kant/kant1.htm
- John Locke, Two Treatises of Government, ch 7-9, at:
http://www.lonang.com/exlibris/locke/
- G.W.F. Hegel The Philosophy of Right, Third part, Second Section “Civil Society,”
at: http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/hegel/works/pr/prcivils.htm#PR182
- Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels The German ideology Part 1, at:
http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/ch01.htm
and The Communist Manifesto: http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html
- Martti Muukkonen wrote to ARNOVA-L (see http://www.arnova.org>i>) on 26 Jan 2009: There are at least dozen different definitions for civil society. Extremes are the Aristotelian (and Nordic) view that CS is the whole society (kononia politikhe in Greek and socielt samhaelle in Swedish) and Anglo-Saxon view that it is just the nonprofit sector. On the theme I recommend John Ehrenberg's book Civil Society: The Critical History of an Idea. (Order http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0814722075/internetnonprofi">
Civil Society from Amazon.Com; a royalty will be paid that helps support this site.) Or if you want a shorter text, I have some presentations on it, for example this: http://cinefogo.cuni.cz/getfile.php?&id_file=162
- Finally, Brian Abelson, Assistant Editor of the Nonprofit FAQ during the summer of 2008 wrote an essay on "Global Civil Society" which can be accessed at http://www.idealist.org/media/pdf/FAQ/Global_Civil_Society.pdf">this link.
Created 26 Aug 08 -- BA; modified 27 Jan 09 -- PB
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