Civil Society: Concepts, Functions, and Development
Concept of Civil Society
Civil society refers to an ordered society of free citizens, whose freedoms are protected and basic needs are met. It is sometimes called the “third sector” and is a non-profit sector, animated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This includes a broad and narrow meaning, along with associated concepts like civic society and the third sector.
Functions of Civil Society
- Political:
- Arena of political negotiation.
- Means of interest representation.
- Counterbalance to government.
- Generating participant civic culture.
- Social:
- Building trust and social capital.
- Crafting cooperation skills.
- Managing social problems.
- Maintaining social cohesion.
- Economic:
- Furthering economic interests.
- Rent-seeking.
- Third sector job creation.
- Civic engagement furthering economic growth.
Actors in Civil Society
Which actors fall under the concept of civil society, and which are external to it? Which actors are on the borderline, and why?
- Protection of citizens: Protecting lives, freedom, and property against attacks and despotism by the state or other authorities.
- Monitoring for accountability: Monitoring the activities of the central powers, state apparatus, and government, holding them to account, usually on a particular topic.
- Advocacy and public communication: Articulating interests—especially of marginalized groups—and creating channels of communication to bring them to the public agenda, thus raising public awareness and debating them.
- Socialization: Contributing to the formation and practice of democratic attitudes among citizens, like tolerance, mutual trust, and the ability to find compromise through democratic procedures.
Legal System and Civil Society Development
How does the legal system and the institutional organization of the state affect civil society development? It depends on the opportunities and obstacles it presents for forming associations, organizing events, and participation. This includes:
- The types of organizations legislation proposes.
- The requirements for organization/public event registration.
- Requirements for organization management.
- Rights and freedoms of participation and self-expression.
Civil Society in Different Societal Contexts
Characterize the civil society that can emerge in a contemporary (Gesellschaft, postindustrial, network society) and compare it to the civil society that evolved in the context of earlier types of societal organization (Gemeinschaft, industrial, pre-industrial societies).
- Main entity: Collective entities (groups, organizations, communities) versus Networked Individuals.
- Character of entities: Homogeneous versus Heterogeneous.
- Coverage: Extended versus Extended, yet narrow.
- Scope: Local versus Glocal.
- Type of community: Many strong internal ties versus similar.
- Type of organization: High versus Lower.
Trust, Participation, and Social Capital
How do trust, participation, and social capital precondition the development of civil society?
- Trust: Interpersonal trust vs. General trust; Social trust vs. Trust in institutions; Intra-group trust vs. Intergroup trust.
- Social capital: Networks, connections, and relations to other people.
- Participation: Citizens are politically informed and interested, willing to participate.
What is Social Capital?
Social capital can be accumulated by complying with cultural and social norms and values. Structural social capital can be accumulated by participation in different networks. Social capital includes networks, connections, and relations to other people.
Types: Bonding ties, bridging ties, linking ties.
Different Understandings of Trust Generation
- Newton: Tested whether the level of trust is generated by life experience, participation in associations, participation in informal networks, or a more trusting personality.
- Putnam: Trust is generated through cooperation on an individual level.
- Paxton: Connected association membership induces trust more effectively.
Cultural Hegemony and Civil Society
Gramsci: Civil society as battlegrounds for cultural hegemony; political society vs. civil society.
Antonio Gramsci, cultural hegemony: The dominance of a particular set of ideas. Political actors will either have to conform with or tackle these ideas. Oppositional initiatives may aim to impose a counter-hegemony. Pluralism can also be founded on a hegemony.