1. The Challenge of Civil Society to Authoritarian Regimes
Nicola Pratt
Pol1010
8 Dec 2000

2. Introduction Civil Society = voluntary groups of citizens
independent of the state
coming together for various reasons
except to make money.

3. Introduction (cont’d)
Examples =
clubs, societies, pressure groups, community associations, social movements, trade unions.

4. Introduction (cont’d)
Challenging authoritarian regimes
Contributing to democratization
Becoming an international actor

5. Introduction (cont’d)
Some problems in the use of the concept
Some obstacles in the path of civil society

6. Presentation Structure
History of the concept
Current uses of the concept

7. History of the Concept Aristotle Locke Marx Hegel De Tocqueville
Gramsci

8. History of the Concept (cont’d)
Aristotle
Politike koinonia (=societas civilis)
Locke
Civ. soc. as natural rights against gov.
Hegel
Civ. soc. as free, ethical, carrier of material civilization

9. History of the Concept (cont’d)
Marx
Civ. soc as bourgeois society
De Tocqueville
Civ. soc. vs. the state (*****)
Gramsci
Civ. soc. as the “trenches of warfare” against capitalism” (***)

10. Current Uses of the Term
Challenging authoritarian regimes
Counterbalance to state power
An independent sphere of free expression and free association
A place from which to develop a new (or counter-hegemonic) political project

11. Current Uses of the Term (cont’d)
Contributing to democratization
Civ. soc. As a sphere of civility (normative)
Civ. soc. As a sphere of pluralism & participation (institutional)
Civ. soc. As a check on state power (transparency and accountability)

12. Current Uses of the Term (Cont’d)
Becoming an international actor
Non-governmental organisations working with the UN (environment, women, human rights)
Transnational advocacy networks
Seattle and after

13. Current Uses of the Term (Cont’d)
Problems in using the term
Fuzzy
Tautological
Rooted in West’s historical development

14. Current Uses of the Term (Cont’d)
Obstacles in the path of civil society
State restrictions on freedom of expression & association
Social and economic inequalities (within and between countries)
Political culture/ideological beliefs
Backlash

15. Conclusion Concept is problematic But, necessary
Civil society puts ordinary people into politics
Nature of civil society changes over time and between countries