In this course report I will focus on the relationship between civil society and democracy on the national and global level. The discussion is based upon the hypothesis that civil society can only constitute itself and act within democratic structures and will address the problem of the civil society in failed states which is not able to facilitate democratization there due to a lack of statehood and on the global level where democratic structures can’t be found.
In the last ten to fifteen years, accompanied by the contemporary issue of globalisation and several civil movements in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there has been an increasing interest and body of literature related to the term of “civil society”.
Civil society develops and acts within a certain context and environment. Because of that, concepts of civil society facilitating democracy can’t be applied on developing countries in general but have to take into account the level of statehood and existing democratic structures in which civil society acts. It is not all about the structure of civil society but also about the existing level of statehood.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Liberal conceptualizations of Civil Society
- The concept of statehood
- Democratic transition by civil society?
- Global Civil Society
- Civil Society in weak and failed states
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This course report examines the complex relationship between civil society and democracy, focusing on both the national and global levels. The report aims to explore the potential of civil society to facilitate democratization, considering the specific context of statehood and existing democratic structures in developing countries.
- The role of civil society in democratic transition
- The concept of civil society and its various interpretations
- The importance of statehood in the development of civil society
- The challenges of civil society in weak and failed states
- The potential of global civil society in promoting democracy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the topic and provides context for the growing interest in the concept of civil society in recent decades. It highlights the challenges of applying universal models of civil society to developing countries, emphasizing the need to consider the level of statehood and existing democratic structures.
The second chapter explores different conceptualizations of civil society, particularly focusing on the liberal perspective. It discusses the work of Gordon White and Laurence Whitehead, who emphasize the autonomy of civil society from the state and its potential to promote democracy.
The third chapter delves into the concept of statehood, drawing on Max Weber's influential definition. It highlights the importance of state authority and its role in shaping civil society. The chapter also discusses the various dimensions of modern statehood, including the constitutional state, the state under the law, the administrative state, and the welfare state.
The fourth chapter examines the relationship between civil society and democratic transition. It questions the role of civil society in promoting democracy, considering different types of civil society and their potential impact on political processes. The chapter explores whether civil society movements support or contest democratization.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This course report focuses on the key concepts of civil society, statehood, democracy, and democratization. It explores the different interpretations of civil society, including the liberal perspective, and analyzes the challenges and opportunities associated with civil society in various contexts, particularly in developing countries and weak or failed states.
- Quote paper
- Dipl.-Pol. Sylvia Stützer (Author), 2008, State, Civil Society and Democratization in the Third World, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138765