Understanding Civil and Uncivil Society

Module I: Civil Society and Democratic Process

• Civil society is a space between the state and the people, comprising autonomous institutions that limit state power
• Serves to both check state power and empower individuals against authoritarian or autocratic governance
• Acts as a channel for mobilizing public sentiment
• Resistance movements, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and former communist countries, spurred civil society revival through women's organizations, student groups, labor unions, and activism
• A resurgence of civil society facilitates democratic spread and consolidation, essential today for a healthy democracy
• Civil society should not be considered an alternative to the state

Civil Society in Ancient Greece

• Civil and political spheres were distinct which is considered the oldest example of its kind
• The concept is rooted in Cicero's and other Roman philosophers' writings

Development of Modern Civil Society

• 16th-18th century enlightenment thinkers contributed to the concept of modern civil society as separate from the state, mobilizing citizens around common concerns
• Modern states shaped civil society, as discussed by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau

Hobbesian vs. Lockean Views

• Hobbes: Social contract theory creates a joint civil and political society under a sovereign "Leviathan"
• Locke: State's role should be limited to protecting individual rights against state overreach

Rousseau and Hegel's Perspectives

• Rousseau: Argued the human desire for self-love (Amore Propre) led to civil liberties being constructed and protected through civil society
• Hegel: Viewed civil society as a step in state evolution
• Tocqueville: Saw civil society as a limiting force on state power in a democracy

Marxist Critiques

• Karl Marx: Criticized civil society as influenced by the bourgeois state
• Antonio Gramsci: Viewed civil society as a tool for the state's "soft power," manufacturing consent through ideological domination, achieved via active participation of civil society organizations

Modern Definitions

• David Held: Defines civil society sociologically
• Jurgen Habermas: Views civil society's active role through the idea of the public sphere

Contemporary Relevance

• Post-Cold War: Renewed interest in civil society due to liberalization, globalization, and privatization, promoted by institutions like the IMF and WB as a buffer between market and state
• Post-modern theorists: Define civil society as a site of and for the people, away from state influence in democracies

Civil Society as Site of Contestation

• Democracy is seen as government by, for, and of the people, but there are variations
• Liberal democracy is a product of modernity, arising from civil war against royal absolutism, transferring power from crown to parliament

Civil Society as a Space for Freedom

• Protects individual freedom from violence and incivility
• Civil society supports multiple identities and ideas, vital in democracies for protecting expression and communication
• Civil society is emerging as inseparable from democracy. Their political languages converge and contradict

Civil Society's Role in Governance

• Governments/political representatives are now subject to public surveillance, negotiation, and compromise
• Civil society has led to civic activism. The issues civil society organizations cover is also phenomenal

Civil Society and State Legitimacy

• It is a theoretical weapon against dictatorships
• States must address questions and challenges posed by it to secure legitimacy
• Stands for plurality, co-existence, tolerance and associational life which has become a global mantra today.

Approaches to Understanding Civil Society

• Anglo-American Approach: Civil society acts as a middle ground between people and state institutions, empowering the public through increased negotiation and bargaining power
• Tracing Currency Approach: Civil society gains importance as citizens rise against totalitarian, fascist, and communist regimes, advancing democracy and individual liberties
• Spread of Free Market Economy: The role of the state is questioned so non-state actors check transnational corporations as the state's democratic foothold diminishes

Increasing Role of Civil Society Organizations

• The play key roles in policy formulation, technical expertise, representing public opinion, and exert pressure
• The groups are also a means of civic education, political culture creation, and leadership development for young people

Promoting Freedom and Democracy

• Civil society aids people from apathy
• Civil society ensures conditions for democracy through political education, accountability, and transparency
• Its functioning can also disrupt democratic processes

Mapping Civil Society

• Growing importance has created both expectations/confusion
• Civil society must be accurately mapped in context to ensure the definitions aren't ambiguous
• It is widely accepted that it represents shared interests and connects to the democratic process
• Mapping clarifies which groups qualify as civil society and public engagement

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

• Civil society is considered these organizations
• They advocate public interest causes like environment, human rights, and anti-corruption
• They are prominent during democratic transitions, but civil society is broader than just NGOs

Broader Conception of Civil Society

• Includes organizations outside the state, like political parties and market-driven entities
• Civil society includes interest groups/pressure groups in political theory. Other examples: labor unions, professional groups, chambers of commerce, student groups, religious & ethnic organizations

Civil Society as Association

• Humans are considered social and associate to pursue interests
• Most modern constitutions acknowledge association as a right, and such groups enable freedom and voluntarism
• Civil society includes both full associations and hybrid types

Types of Civil Society Associations

• Traditional Associations: Based on tribe, ethnicity, or caste, mediating family relationships and governing resources. They are declining due to modernization

Religious Associations

• Has religious/spiritual motivation
• Some carry out welfare in healthcare, education, and water provision

Social Movements

• Driven by social causes like tribal rights and fight social evils
• They are concerned with displaced/marginalized
• Environmental movements too

Membership Association

• Most civil society organizations today admit members who give some contribution
• The formality and exclusivity varies

Intermediary Association

• Based on broader causes, giving support and guidance
• They act as intermediaries between government and people, providing advocacy, service delivery, philanthropy, mobilization, and networking

Uncivil Society

• A catch-all term for disruptive elements emerged
• Controlling/regulating them is difficult, especially across borders
• Range from child pornography & right-wing extremism to lack of consensus

Threats to Order

• They all threaten proper order/common good
• The "information society" represents opportunity/threat
• Networks include terrorist

Globalization and Uncivil Society

• Drug trafficking with organized crime are all forces
• Forces that contributed to global civil society have also facilitated elements

Relevance

• The wholesale imposition of western notions on non-western societies has created lots of confusion
• Always about emancipatory politics, collective action or aid is euro centric explanation
• Can be a active site of conflict and contestation that brings disturbances and disenchantments

Resistance

• Dissent is key to substantive democracy
• Resistance can challenge and subvert exclusive democratic ideals
• Pro-market scholars, demonstration and struggle against big dams are uncivil in nature
• Academics explain 'uncivil' is anything that subverts the liberal democratic ideals and values

Conclusion

• Trajectory is less explored with multiple explanations
• The meaning, role, and importance of civil society in democracy are all the topics highlighted
• The historical origins of the civil society are also noted
• The civil society was discussed in depth using the idea of associational type of civil society
• Finally, the less researched notion of uncivilized society was touched upon

Module 2: Civil Society Organisation and the State

• Civil Society is a network between the individual and the modern state (Britannica)
• Civil society is a wide array of organizations (World Bank).
• The third sector has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses
• Civil society organizations share a symbiotic relation with the state, playing a role attaining sustainable development roles
• Their roles as state watchdogs, service providers, and co-developers are crucial
• CSO's influence governance and policymaking:

Influence

• Provide volunteers/resources for government to tap
• Issues of inclusion & exclusion can be verified by independent volunteers
• CSOs & NGOs can effectively link people and governance and communicate populace needs to govermnent
• Civil society grew in former USSR with democratic transition in Europe

Civil Society's Failure

• Peacebuilding and development require extensive financial support and strategies.

Civil society & Democratization

• Promotes democracy, environmental awareness, and its link to state and people
• Civil society operates with the state, in one of the three spheres for making democracy
• Civil society organizes social movements

Service Delivery

• The role of civil society organizations has doubled in recent years in both developed and industrialized countries
• ADB's described functions are multifaceted

Functions of Service Delivery:

• Complement government poverty alleviation programs with community-based assistance for communities, empowering women, and the marginalized
• PM Modi called on CSOs to help during the 2020 Pandemic, NITI Aayog reached out to more than 90,000 NGOS and CSOs delivered health services

Providing Assistance to People Affected by Conflict

• Assist refugees, displaced people and host communities in conflict areas around the world (ex: The Danish Refugee council (DRC)
• Provide civil society to to welfare programs for the poor in developing countries world-wide

Health Services

• Deliver basic health care and resources like supplies and education
• CSOs help the Swachha Bharat Mission by creating awareness, changing behaviors, providing education and running schools

Preservation

• Their contribution in preserving natural resources are bio-diverse and vital for a sound india

Sub-Saharan Africa

• CSOs are confirmed to play a part in health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Kabarole district, Uganda case study is presented (2013)
• It also shows status and affordability and access to health care centers for the community

Logistics Regression

• Results (97%) confirmed that CSOs and NGOs played a major role in healthcare service delivery including child immunization services.
• Many government-Civil Society Organization (CSO) collaborations are not in sync
• Good civil society relation must have finance, tension resolves for public, administrative procedures harmonize- they build true partnership

Watch-Dog

• CSOs help protect the rights of the minority, depressed class, and also protecting freedom and liberty by civil society
• Prevents Majorities and protects Indian spirit of diversity

Watch-Dog Actions

• Advocate/campaigner- including indigenous rights/environment
• Watchdog- monitor compliance with treaties
• Building active citizenship and Governance involvement

Monitoring

• Create civil society driven evaluation for the system of minority rights
• By strengthening monitor capabilities and minority rights obligations , tracking gov expenditures, using tools

Public Oversight

• This is a important mechanism for accountability and state institutions
• CSOs have contributors , power/money need mechanisms of accessibility =accountability

Co-Optation

• Absorb new challenging elements
• Direct participication & inclusion of CSOs
• Can have negative
• Dilute Opposition by incorporatiting members into negotiation processes

Negative Effects

• States use these for legitimized authoritarian rules
• For example the CSO navigate by working on individual state actor positions

India collaborations:

• Syal, Wessel, highlights India, CSOs offer technical knowledge and resolutions w,innovative strategies translator/local language

The Result of Collaboration

• Power in government can help lead agenda along collaboration
• Synergy driving economic change
• Government with civil society- check Powers

Civil Society for Democracy

• Help train leaders program reconcile conflict alliance partner help system making process

Tight Spaces

• In order not to fail collaborate. Without authority, state and voice
• Civil exhibits/political/open policy,guarantee government

UNDP Definition

• Exist together between government
• Many cso, active supported government system

Conclusion

• Governments must ensure civil soicetys Role democracy to work, unfortunately being shut down/ persecuted because of corona crisis
• Role being vital for security but helps making government Enriching like india

Module 3: Spaces of Civil Society Organisation Action

• The organizations should understand idea civil mappion relations sov corp
• Should reviwe in detailed p. k. b review modern/historical perspective and understanding
• Nayor gives detailed review
• State hegonomy the organization autonomy which gives itself distinct/ state hegonomy( nayare , 2014) michael
• walzer define sphere coercion in the social the collective action the normative substantive independent ( government and private).

Understanding Civil Society- CSO

• The emphasis of the formation organized to act,( walzer, 1998)
• Broad speech CSOs include wide array of governmental the for profit organization they have in the social part interests and the member other base or the social concern

Growth In The Century

• Active Watch Dog CSOs is play significant challenges in the public sphere which is done by csos
• Co inside momentum Developments In civil society

Civil Society Actions

• The CSOs is can be perceived by autorities, the CSOs act honors all the leads tightly establish organization by various funding process

Governmental Control

• State corporation certain selective for their agenda Gordon white the operation organization
• the need depending on the to be of possibility may permit, deter operation is true in all power that monopoly Weberians state apparatus warry of powers may creath, dissafffection,masses against area is perceived to authorities accruere their.

Spaces

• According to Edwards Collective organization will still need to show Voice security citizen for action
• Catagorisation Benjamin Barber. Civil Society
• civil society is an indicator Market. against each other
• Forge protest immediate is the perspective and against type ( gudavarthy, 2007)
• identity has given has given
• percent of for condition describe

What they do

• Technical think policy.
• Organizational structures NGO/ grassroots communications like tools legitimate state - deliverables management are representatives - reaches milestone empower
• Social poverty alleviation Sustainable Media communication awareness building Peace Society

Religion

• An Analyze instrumentalist has maintain or
• Groups spiritual often is political beyond diving intervention
• Human Liberty in religious hierarchy for certain society
• Hierarchy Fatal Liberty human in
• Anti democrative Freedom war and
• Temporal demarcation is Spiritual use to the rulers is knows

How they influence

• Colonial facilitate spreading their
• White colonial Empire the the to in power
• The In Canada apologies for
• Society awareness of is this of (1881)
• Between state 2022 is the state in (2007)
• has to the with the in a is

Mass Connection

• creates society society, society
• State from the
• That in the
• Freedom society

Secular - the state or agencies?

• Denlal to to that in
• the the or of some has the in what or society

Explore the complexities of civil society classifications and the characteristics of 'uncivil society' as defined by Rumford. This includes examples, relationships with other organizations, and its connections to globalization and the information society. Also analyzes the relationship between civil society, associations and liberty.