Civil SocietyCivil Society

IntroductionsIntroductions

What is civil society? What is civil society? a network of individual, a network of individual, voluntaryvoluntary organizations. organizations.

Civil society, in general definitions, is believed to provide a Civil society, in general definitions, is believed to provide a counterweight to the power of the state.counterweight to the power of the state.

voluntary organizations vs primordial organizationsvoluntary organizations vs primordial organizations

Early definitions: a sphere of social activity Early definitions: a sphere of social activity intended to protect property rightsintended to protect property rights

Its function – to keep the state from interfering with the Its function – to keep the state from interfering with the interests of the bourgeoisieinterests of the bourgeoisie

Current definitions: Current definitions: a realm of democratic social a realm of democratic social interaction interaction

Almost all nonviolent associational activity between Almost all nonviolent associational activity between individuals and the state.individuals and the state.

Function: to enable all citizens to ensure state accountabilityFunction: to enable all citizens to ensure state accountability

Who is part of civil society?Who is part of civil society? MediaMedia trade unionstrade unions professional associations of all professional associations of all

kindskinds business associationsbusiness associations human rights organizationshuman rights organizations churches, mosques, churches, mosques,

synagogues, other religious synagogues, other religious orgs.orgs.

charitiescharities Book clubsBook clubs Soccer leagues, sport orgsSoccer leagues, sport orgs Animal rights associationsAnimal rights associations Women’s orgsWomen’s orgs

A strong civil society exists A strong civil society exists when…when…

1.1. citizens relate voluntarily to each other on the citizens relate voluntarily to each other on the basis of shared interests that do not basis of shared interests that do not exclusively replicate primordial tiesexclusively replicate primordial ties

2.2. the state abides by certain rules in dealing the state abides by certain rules in dealing with societal actors, recognizing in particular with societal actors, recognizing in particular their autonomytheir autonomy

3.3. state and society accept and protect the state and society accept and protect the exercise of the right to dissent by citizens, exercise of the right to dissent by citizens, provided that dissenting minorities do not use provided that dissenting minorities do not use forceforce

Why do political scientists Why do political scientists care about civil society?care about civil society?

Believed to be critical part of democracy and Believed to be critical part of democracy and democratization. democratization.

Believed to check the power of the state, and to Believed to check the power of the state, and to provide a set of “norms” for democratic behavior.provide a set of “norms” for democratic behavior.

Promotes “institutional pluralism that prevents the Promotes “institutional pluralism that prevents the establishment of a monopoly of power and truth” establishment of a monopoly of power and truth” (Gellner).(Gellner).

Civil Society in the Middle Civil Society in the Middle East: main perspectivesEast: main perspectives

Perspective 1- “Perspective 1- “civil society is absent in civil society is absent in the Middle East, or largely ineffective”the Middle East, or largely ineffective”

Islam, tribalism (primordialism), Islam, tribalism (primordialism), authoritarianism all seen as impediments to the authoritarianism all seen as impediments to the development of civil societydevelopment of civil society

Perspective 2- “Perspective 2- “emerging and even emerging and even vibrant”vibrant”

Perspective 3- Perspective 3- “sparse but nonetheless “sparse but nonetheless important”important”

Our questionsOur questions 1: I1: If we confine our discussions to “traditional” f we confine our discussions to “traditional”

western conceptions of civil society, then what can western conceptions of civil society, then what can we say about civil society in various Middle we say about civil society in various Middle Eastern countries? Eastern countries?

2: 2: Should we expand our definitions of civil Should we expand our definitions of civil society? Should we include Islamist organizations society? Should we include Islamist organizations or not? Should we look at informal networks and or not? Should we look at informal networks and consider them part of civil society? Why or why consider them part of civil society? Why or why not? What advantages would we gain from not? What advantages would we gain from expanding our definitions, and what disadvantages expanding our definitions, and what disadvantages would there be?would there be?