Society Civil and development
Image: World Bank site
Outline
What is civil society
Definitions Examples
Why is it important to the developing world What is its current status Gender Religion examples
WEEK 10
This session looks at third world society and its impact on both the state and prospects for development. We will consider the role of civil society, and both religion and gender as actors and issues within civil society and in development politics more broadly. QUESTIONS: 1) 2) What is civil society, and why is it considered crucial to democratization? What are the competing definitions of civil society?
3) Why are traditional forms of civil society reappearing in developing countries today, and what functions do they perform? 4) To what extent to civil society organizations represent the population?
5)
6)
Discuss the different ways in which civil society organizations relate to the state.
What problems can strong organizations of civil society create in weak states?
7)
8)
Why are religio-political actors found in so many parts of the developing world?
Will poverty-alleviation policies automatically address gender inequalities?
9) Discuss three features of the political structure that open or close spaces for women's voices, individually and collectively.
Definitions
Hegel : "the realm of organizations that lie between the family at one extreme and the state at the other" (Ottaway, p.122) There is now, however, no accepted definition Why not?
Definitions - 2
What is wrong with Hegels definition?
Voluntary association? Are all organizations between the family and the state civil society? Is there a difference between civil and political society?
Does all civil society aspire to control the government?
Definitions - 3
As the influence of the state in development is seen to diminish, the role of civil society increases In particular, this sees the rise of non governmental organizations (NGOs): organizations that operate in civil society and are not part of government or the state (although sometimes dependent, in part, on government for funding) Thus, ,,civil society is "a term highly contested, and concerning the realm of voluntary citizen associations that exists between the family and the state enjoying independence of the latter, and seeking to influence public policy without aspirations to public office" modern civil society comprises formal, professionalized nongovernmental organizations typical of the late 20th century traditional civil society is organized more informally, and may follow patterns with deep and enduring roots in history and society
Traditional vs. modern civil society
Modern civil society
That part of civil society ,, the part of civil society organized into formal, professionalized NGOs typical of the late twentieth century. P. 125
Traditional civil society
Exist in almost all societies Often most active where state is weak Perform variety of functions, not just the ,,traditional Lacks the clear boundaries between itself and the society on one hand, and the state on the other
Inverse relationship in countries where the state is strong, there is a weaker traditional civil society and a strong modern civil society. Where the state is weak, the opposite is usually the case.
Civil society
For aid agencies, civil society = ,, a very narrow set of organizations: professionalized NGOs dedicated to advocacy or civic education work on public interest issues directly relating to democratization, such as election monitoring, voter education, governmental transparency and political and civil rights in general" (Ottaway, p. 124) The question of ,,What is civil society? often gets answered through practice
Functions of civil society
Generation of social capital
Social capital: referring to social networks, norms and trust, that enable participants to function more effectively in pursuing a common goal. Arguably high levels are valuable for both political and economic cooperation
Representation of the interests and demands of the population Provisions of goods and services for the population Important for aid organizations looking to increase democratization
requires democracy a large, active, democratically oriented civil society, but what is found in most countries is a bifurcated situation: an official civil society small, democratic, but essentially elitist; and a less formal, traditional civil society large, popular, well rooted but of dubious democratic credentials (p. 133)
How do we combine the democratic commitment of the former to the popular roots and outreach of the other?
Examples of civil society organizations?
Examples of civil society impact World Social Forum
"Another World is Possible" Coincides with World Economic Forum occurs in a developing country
The World Social Forum is not an organisation, not a united front platform, but "...an open meeting place for reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and inter-linking for effective action, by groups and movements of civil society that are opposed to neo-liberalism and to domination of the world by capital and any form of imperialism, and are committed to building a planetary society centred on the human person". (From the WSF Charter of Principles).
Examples of civil society participation
The Yes Men
,,Identity correction vs. ,,identity theft Bhopal e.g.
Part of a growing tradition of media-savvy activists that media tools against the powerful
culture jamming
Channel 4 movie
Gender
,,Referring to ideas about male and female and the relations between them as social constructions rather than the product of biological determinants only Women, as a whole, still disproportionately disadvantaged
Disadvantage even more severe in poorest countries
Bringing ,,private issues into the public sphere
Invisible/unpaid labour Domestic violence Sexual violence Representation Reproductive self-determination
Gender and civil society
Womens ngos gaining influence, as are women in NGOs ,,political structure matters
Representation Accountability
,,Gender mainstreaming of policy and other areas
http://www.globalgagrule.org/video.htm
Religion
Religio-politics: political activity with religious dimensions
Religious fundamentalism: a disputed term applied most often to groups of Islamic, Hindu, and Christian worshippers who place strong emphasis on a return to their faiths fundamentals and resistance to secularization, often through political means
Religion cont
Has long been a feature of political, social, economic and other relationships Some claim religion, is now gaining more influence
Fundamentalism Importance of religion in developing countries (and in developed ones?)
Image: Cambridge interfaith group site
Religion and civil society
What is the relationship between religion and civil society?
Conclusions and summary
Civil society
Complex questions of definition Often times defined through practice Traditional and modern civil society Increasing in importance?
Gender
Political structure matters Importance of gender mainstreaming
Religion
New (?) importance of religio-politics? Renewed importance post September 11th?
WEEK 10
This session looks at third world society and its impact on both the state and prospects for development. We will consider the role of civil society, and both religion and gender as actors and issues within civil society and in development politics more broadly. QUESTIONS: 1) 2) What is civil society, and why is it considered crucial to democratization? What are the competing definitions of civil society?
3) Why are traditional forms of civil society reappearing in developing countries today, and what functions do they perform? 4) To what extent to civil society organizations represent the population?
5)
6)
Discuss the different ways in which civil society organizations relate to the state.
What problems can strong organizations of civil society create in weak states?
7)
8)
Why are religio-political actors found in so many parts of the developing world?
Will poverty-alleviation policies automatically address gender inequalities?
9) Discuss three features of the political structure that open or close spaces for women's voices, individually and collectively.