POL4 Civil society

What is Tvedt arguing?

NGOs are focused on donors and not on community issues. Focused because they depend on donors. A neocolonial project with western values.

NGO function according to Lang

NGOs bound legally to be non-politivcla though can engage in non-institional politics. Generate normative claims about common good;actas expert in civic spaces; can be used as force of democracy (not stepping outside of democracy

Why has NGOs been allowed in China at all?

NGOs have been allowed in some capacity to the extent that they help provide for social welfare, which the state does to a lesser extent since the economic reforms; especially areas which they cannot openly deal with; like HIV/aids. But it is under the watch eye of the state; like google they have to accept terms.

Why is Civil society thought to be a powerful antidote to radical Islam in the Middle East?

Because it's presumed that's what happened with the fight against authoritarianism in Latin America and communism in Central Europe.

How does the US government encourage social capital formation?

such past initiatives as the county agricultural-agent system, community colleges, and tax deductions for charitable contributions

How does civil society do to train citizens to come democratic?

teach how to take part in political life, facilitate cooperation, voice concerns, stimulate debate, press government for action, give space to voice individual's distinct interests. Mediator between state and society.

Central and East Europe civil society

the concept of civil society cemented its reputation as the Zeitgeist of the post-cold-war era, ensuing from its association with the heroic struggles against Communism waged by a variety of citizens' organizations.

What was the state of things in China post-1949?

the newly formed communist state wanted more societal control and established intermediary organizations linking the party to society. The state, because of e.g. life-long employment, took good care of welfare.

Civil soc roles (Foley and Edwards)

1) Socialization function; associations playing major role - building citiz. Skills. 2) Public and quasi-public functions; taking over social provision of state. Takes for granted it's ability to produce civic engagement. 3) Representative functions; identity to distinct voices/interests + diverse points of view; public debate, gov action (defend social autonomy, promote policy change)

What is Encarnacion arguing?

A flurry of studies accuses NGOs of fostering the very ills they are meant to help cure: authoritarianism, corruption, and lack of accountability, to name just a few. American endeavors to nurture the growth of civil society abroad have grown in influence and visibility since the American invasion of Iraq in March 2003 with the intention of giving the Middle East a democratic makeover. Civil society in many new democracies is a creation or a dependency of external financing. Having achieved their main goals-the defeat of an odious regime and the installation of a democratic government-citizens feel less compelled to come together. Post-transition period: their key players are not civil society organizations but rather political institutions, parties in particular

How has civil society has fallen far short of its theoretical aspiration? (Encarnacion)

A strong civil society was hailed as the ideal vehicle to dislodge corrupt and incompetent governments, to deliver social and public services, to fortify civil liberties and human rights, to promote good governance and economic prosperity, to serve as an antidote to the rise of ethnic nationalism, and to achieve democratic stability and longevity. Many studies now suggest that a strong civil society is not necessarily democratic.

Tocqueville quote

Americans of all ages, all stations in life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations.

Lang's liberal theory

Barrier btw state and civil soc; how to go public w what's happening in family sphere. Not about publicly recognizing collectivities. Doesn't necessarily generate change.

Social capital

Any feature of social relations that contributes to the ability of a society to work together and accomplish its goals. Positive normative spin. By analogy with notions of physical capital and human capital--tools and training that enhance individual productivity-- "social capital" refers to features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit.

Putnam's participatory democracy theory

Association promote civic engagement through the social capital it produces. Associationism per se produces habits of coop and trust, social networks and norms, that in least in certain sorts of groups, issue the social trust and civic engagement that healthy dems need. Civic culture growing from certain practices, practices doesn't grow from civic culture. Favorite examples; bowling leagues, choirs, birding societies. Civic engagement affect the performance of representative government; central conclusion of my own 20-year, quasi-experimental study of subnational governments in different regions of Italy. No doubt the mechanisms through which civic engagement and social connectedness produce such results--better schools, faster economic development, lower crime, and more effective government--are multiple and complex. While these briefly recounted findings require further confirmation and perhaps qualification, the parallels across hundreds of empirical studies in a dozen disparate disciplines and subfields are striking. Networks of civic engagement foster sturdy norms of generalized reciprocity and encourage the emergence of social trust. Such networks facilitate coordination and communication, amplify reputations, and thus allow dilemmas of collective action to be resolved. Networks of civic engagement embody past success at collaboration, which can serve as a cultural template for future collaboration. Dense networks of interaction probably broaden the participants' sense of self, developing the "I" into the "we." Social connections and civic engagement pervasively influence our public life, as well as our private prospects

What are critique of NGOs?

Autonomy, accountability, representing whose interests

What was the focus of the 18th-19th centuries?

Citizen engagement in pulic

What is civil society tied to (in the West)?

Emerging modern state

What is Howard arguing?

Civil soc in Post-communist European countries is weak, which doesn't necessarily mean there can be no democracy, but it does mean civic skills are not developed in the same way, and that they lack institutional representation. In post-communist countries, where autonomous pluralism was repressed during the communist era, this is transferred into the post-communist era. Connects participation in civil society w the rule of the people of democracy, which implies a connection btw the civil and the pol sphere. The weakness of civil society constitutes a distinctive element of post- communist democracy, a pattern that points to a qualitatively different relationship between citizens and the state = measuring in terms of strength of civil soc, but also on the basis of a different relationship btw state and citizen.

Political capital (Foley and Edwards)

Civil soc influence pol cap over soc cap; its effects on regime performance follows a direct path through more conventional forms of pol participation than indirect more cultural route (latter Neo-Tocquevillean).

Anti-state civil soc (Foley and Edwards)

Civil society anti-state is anti-pol. Like-minded oppositional reformist groups, but not upper-classes. Not state or political direction, but substantial benefits to society. Social movements, advocacy groups, non-proft = removed from conception of civil soc.

What is Edwards arguing on India?

Civil society is a contested concept which refers to any kind of collective action in groups of people. It can be groups who are e.g. fighting for democracy and rights, but it doesn't have to be. Groups can also be hierarchical and non-democratic. Conceptualization of civil society only focused on the positive; democratic definition is too westernized and doesn't account for the degrees or levels of democracy, in that democracy is as big a part of their way of thinking as it is for the West. Therefor, expecting civil society to work and express itself similarly everywhere is flawed and Eurocentric, especially because we know civil society, as we conceptualize it, is tied to the formation of the nation-state. Associational life neutralizes the individualism. It's seen as an intrinsic good. Collective action brings to fruition the basic presumption of democracy: popular sovereignty.

Civil society according to Edwards

Civil society is plural in nature and in composition: chambers of commerce alongside workers' organizations, patriarchal groups alongside groups that fight for women, caste and racist groups alongside democratic movements fighting for dignity. One cannot assume that all organizations in civil society will always be democratic. Civil society is a site of struggle between different sorts of groups and commitments. Civil society organizations need not be democratic nor subscribe to the same core values. NGOs considered part of civil society, but can it not also be argued to be disruptive of it, if it's imposed from the outside? What is civil society supposed to do? Assuming it's expressing the opinions of the people of the nation, then is this what NGOs are doing, even if they're imposing Western ideals unto indigenous populations? Civil society is everything concerning independent citizens organizing around concerns and interests, which means it's also state-related organizations, sport clubs, salons and discussion groups, as well as illegal organizations, etc.

Civil society according to Waltzer

Civil society names the space of uncoerced human association and also the set of relational networks-formed for the sake of family, faith, interest and ideology-that fill this space.

Howard's Different regimes leads to different civil societies

Communism is a one-of-a-kind, historical, political regime that has left in its wake a distinct legacy for civil society not found in other post-transition regimes. This view leads him to the very provocative but questionable contention that different regime types ("older democracies," "post-authoritarian democracies," and "post-communist democracies") have divergent consequences for the development of civil society (and, presumably, democracy). The extreme weakness of civil society that Howard tries to explain is not unique to the post-communist world. Although it is generally acknowledged that "totalitarian" states flattened civil society while "authoritarian" states tolerated the existence of a semiautonomous civil society, it is telling that levels of civic engagement in countries like Uruguay, Spain, and Argentina do not differ much from those of post-communist Europe. Compulsory participation by the citizenry in state-sanctioned organizations, presumed by Howard to be a defining feature of Communism and a primary cause in making the citizenry "organizationally passive and detached", was also a feature of authoritarianism.

Concept (Edwards)

Concepts can neither be neutral nor transcultural, or that they bear the imprint of the historical context in which they first emerged. How are concepts reshaped in different social and political settings?

Participatory theory

Critique: forms for communities in which to assemble? Exclusion processes inherent in hierarchical communication structures.

Deliberative democracy

Debate at the center of pol and civil soc; insti core of CS is constituted by voluntary unions outside realm of state + pol. Functions of associations go beyond establishing networks of solidarity. Can generate change. Issues from margins to centers of power.

What are the main themes of civil society?

Democracy, social capital, associational life, common good, social and cultural integration, state formation, non-political vs representative of democracy, active vs passive public, trust, engagement, deliberative democracy, interest representation vs self-interest, state infrastructure limitation, supporting insti framework making dem work vs capacity building and mobilization of discontent voice, state capacity to react, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, S-W, time-resources-wealth-education, majority-minority, bringing people together, membership, vertical vs horizontal, solidarity, micro vs macrolevel, impact, neoliberal project, funding, empowerment, propaganda, image control, aid.

Global civil society

Developing around efforts to influence the deliberation of IGOs. Civil soc = social movements + pol advocacy.

Welfare state

Disorganizes above all social networks, associations and solidarities, replacing these by state- administrative relations

Civil society for aid groups

For the inter national aid community, however, civil society is decidedly a political construct headed by advocacy nongovernmental organizations that promote a variety of prodemocracy causes. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which in recent years has made global civil society assistance a programmatic priority, defines civil society as "non-state organizations that can or have the potential to champion democratic/governance reforms.

What is Guo arguing?

Members of civic associations in China are more active than members of mass organizations or the communist party - no matter what kind of impact it has on the political process.

Civic culture argument

Generalized social trust (trust in people in general), trust in gov + public officials, tolerance, optimism = integral components of soc cap. = impact on participation + civic engagement.

Neoliberal empowerment

Granting it to disempowered people

What software was installed into all new computers receiving domestic criticism, so the government had to back down?

Green Dam Youth Escort censorship

What is Jackman and Millar's critique of Putnam?

He only used single indicator to prove that US participation/social cap has declined. Didn't account for belief in people's helpfulness. Putnam argued a decline btw 1974 and 1993. But charity organization membership doubled btw 1977 and 1995. different types of groups are important.

What is a critique of Putnam's theory?

Membership doesn't guarantee agency. Doesn't explain how civil engagement in transferred into policy change. Might work in one instance (sport) but not in others. Doesn't account for how to promote this cohesion.

Civil soc according to Foley and Edwards

Identified w emergent liberalism. Now populist and left critique of state. Embodies ethical idea of social order - harmonizes conflicting demands. Ambiguous meaning one thing to one group and something else to another.

How has civil society been discouraged by the left in some places?

In many countries (like Spain, Uruguay, Chile) left-wing leaders actively began to demobilize civil society by discouraging social protest and organization outside of the party structure once the transition to democracy got underway.

Indirect effect of NGOs

Interaction of citizens leads to mobilization. wealthy people are more likely to vote. promoting voter participation

What was the Indian example of empowerment?

It was endogenized self-empowerment; communities gathering. NGO non-compliant as it was not focused on neoliberal empowerment conception. doesn't lead to social movements, however. Micro scale again.

Tertiary organizations

New mass-membership organizations are plainly of great political importance; sufficiently different from classic "secondary associations". = membership consists in writing a check for dues or perhaps occasionally reading a newsletter. Few ever attend any meetings of such organizations, and most are unlikely ever (knowingly) to encounter any other member. Their ties, in short, are to common symbols, common leaders, and perhaps common ideals, but not to one another.

What were the civil society organizations like in the beginning?

Non-political to avoid state censorship

Only middle class in civil society (Edwards)

Only middle class take part in civil society, because they speak the language of rights, whereas the poor, who adopt illegal means to stay alive, cannot participate.

Neo-Tocquevillean civil soc (Putnam)

Participation in association promotes attitudes relevant to civic engagement and even commitment to dem. The quality of public life and the performance of social institutions (and not only in America) are indeed powerfully influenced by norms and networks of civic engagement. Virtually all forms of voluntary associations contribute to the making of social capital as long as they bring the citizenry together in "horizontal relations of reciprocity and cooperation" rather than "vertical relations of authority and dependency (not the case w China; so China not producing soc cap). CRITIQUE: The neo-Tocquevillean assumption that an expansive civil society and a health democracy go hand in hand may well amount to a myth or at the very least an extrapolation from the American political experience of dubious relevance to other countries.

What is Putnam arguing?

Perhaps the traditional forms of civic organization whose decay we have been tracing have been replaced by vibrant new organizations. Retirement organization in America feared by Washington, bc it has millions of loyal members = membership/civic engagement affecting pol. Although most secondary associations are nonprofits, most nonprofit agencies are not secondary associations. All three of these potential countertrends--tertiary organizations, nonprofit organizations, and support groups--need somehow to be weighed against the erosion of conventional civic organizations. Members of associations are much more likely than nonmembers to participate in politics, to spend time with neighbors, to express social trust, and so on. The close correlation between social trust and associational membership is true not only across time and across individuals, but also across countries. The greater the density of associational membership in a society, the more trusting its citizens. Trust and engagement are two facets of the same underlying factor-- social capital.

How is trust endogenous? (Jackman and Miller)

Political institutions play key role in generating trust; endogenous bc it's not cultural norms, but the context the individual find themselves in - e.g. economic situation and political institutions. Core values are shifting because of economic conditions, makes the values endogenous.

Lang's parallel policy

Populist; pretend/think you are to be anti-political; disengagement w the state. Remove how people can be politically engaged. Influence gov + donor agencies perceive and construct civil soc actors.

What is Edwards arguing on China?

Since 1978, market reforms, socioeconomic changes, technological and political factors have shaped the direction of civil society. The expansion and retraction of the autonomy of civil society in China has happens in cyclical patterns. Some things are just not allowed, like separation of Tibet movement, organizing independent trade unions, alternative parties, etc. In the world of terror, China is increasingly sceptic to ulterior motives of NGOs, not excluding the interests of the West to democratize China.

Public social capital

Soc cap that fosters a cooperative spirit, norms of reciprocity, and collective thinking beyond the boundaries of the group itself. Associational membership = associated w higher level of public soc cap (participation in community and pol affairs). Different type of associations = different types of soc cap.

What's Putnam's theory?

Social cap (features of social trust); networks, norms, trust - act together effectively to pursue shared interests. Italy and US = membership in sports clubs; can generate social capital. --> trust, sense of community --> pol participation. state more likely to respond to general will.

How has civil society failed to live up to its reputation as a democratic miracle worker? (Encarnacion)

Social capital is a double-edged sword; citizens can just as easily employ it to build democracy as to undermine it. The same social trust that emerges in organizations that civil society enthusiasts celebrate (trade unions, boy scouts, choral societies, and, most famously, bowling leagues) can also be located in the ones they detest (cults, gangs, militias, and terrorist organizations).

What aspects of civil society should one choose between?

Social life, domestic world, economic sphere, cultural activities, political interaction (individuals and groups onside control of state).

Bourdieu's capital

Social, financial, human, cultural capital.

What the type of political participation generated by civil societies (NGOs) depend on?

State-civic associations relations

How does the promotion of social capital become an excuse?

States don't listen to people because of the fact that they're promoting it (it's enough) (China being example of this)

What is Lang arguing?

That civil society has changed throughout time. Where it used to be tightly related to the rise of the modern state and the legitimization of constitutional politics through popular election, it's not about trust and engagement btw people in society. He's critiquing Putnam's idea saying that membership doesn't transfer to political agency. Other ways of engaging are likewise not political; media = only passive representation. Neoliberal NGOs are technocratic and does not engage the public.

What does the example of Israel/Palestine show?

That social capital can e high, but if it can't interact, then it has no political significance.

Civic republican tradition (Foley and Edwards)

The health of dem depends on certain moral commitments among the citizenry; roots in community mindedness and public spiritless (endangered in individualist consumerist culture.

Putnam's rise in small groups

The last few decades have witnessed a rapid expansion in "support groups" of various sorts; small group that meets regularly and provides support or caring for those who participate in it. Small groups may not be fostering community as effectively as many of their proponents would like. Some small groups merely provide occasions for individuals to focus on themselves in the presence of others.

How does NGO autonomy vary across time in China?

The state allow different levels of activity throughout time. It's more centralized and authoritarian now.

What does Boulding argue?

There's a difference btw southern and western NGOs, depending on the context and environment they find themselves in (make dem work vs capacity build). It depends on the state's ability and willingness to act. In authoritarian regimes civil society generate control.

Boulding's critique of social capital research?

There's not taken account of the state's reaction to civil demands.

What is the problem w civil organizations being implemented and funded by the West?

They have no idea about the indigenous culture of the country, and can come off as empty, unfamiliar, foolish or misguided.

Does mass organizations facilitate political participation?

They should, because they're the official channel to express discontent. but agency is restricted bc if expression is considered to e disruptive/destabilizing, they're put down.

Why doesn't China entirely remove the power of civil society?

They're learning from what didn't work of the USSR - like the weakening of civil society Cutting off all international funding doesn't work either.

What convinced people that democracy was not immediately possible in China?

Tiananmen Square 'incident'.

Subject orientation

Willingness to be led and to abide by the decisions of the authorities.

What is Jackman and Miller arguing?

You can analyze social capital from a Exogenous vs endogenous viewpoint. Putnam is arguing different things in Italy (ex) and US. Putnam kind of argues that membership of a group is the same as trusting someone, but source argues that the need a person has for help is more important; people will be more or less active depending on their individual circumstance, which makes it endogenous. Group membership is not a good of measuring in the first place, as there are many different ways you can be active.

Example of Chinese mass organizations?

Youth league, All-China Federation of Trade Unions, All-China's Women's Federation

How might NGOs undermine their own role in civil society?

because of bureaucratization, professionalism and institutionalization

Edwards on democracy

citizen activism, public vigilance, informed public opinion, a free media, and a multiplicity of social associations are necessary preconditions

Civil society according to Gellner

civil society denotes "the social residue that is left behind when the state is subtracted.

Civil society according to Putnam

civil society embraces organizations that are essentially nonpolitical in nature (civic associations and recreational clubs) and therein resides its importance to the political sphere.

What are Foley and Edwards arguing?

civil society socializes people - makes them good citizens. NGO beneficiaries on different policies. Used by public sector to fill certain functions.

What is social capital?

create obligations, expectations, trust, information flow, norms and sanctions

What was the state of things in China post-1978?

diversification of ownership systems, relaxation of controls over internal migration, etc. + the dismantling of the rural commune system —> pluralization of interests and as a result increased social differentiation.

From where does China get its legitimacy?

economic growth, middle class growing, nationalism (if you lose the party, everything falls apart = international community will take over; opposite to dem in West)

What was the themes of the rise of democracy in Europe?

express concerns, common interests and creating norms and behavior

Direct effect of NGOs

healthcare, economic assistance, education = sharing burdens of state. might also undermine state sovereignty. criticizing states for not being capable themselves.

How has the global democratic revolution of the last three decades not unleashed a widely anticipated out pouring of citizens' participation in organizations that are voluntary and free of state control? (Encarnacion)

in numerous posttransition settings civil society appears weaker under democratic rule than it did under the old dictatorial order.

Tocquevillelaen civil soc

in the absence of a monarch and strong federal institutions, religious organizations, chambers of com merce, and civic groups provided the glue that held America together and made its democracy possible.

How is trust exogenous? (Jackman and Miller)

levels of trust as given and not subject to change. The group people are a member of, will decide how they feel about a certain subject, which makes social capital exogenous. Depend on situation and factors.

How was communist countries highly politicizing the public sphere?

many people could express themselves openly only within close circles of trusted friends and family. Civil society organizations not a way to meet people in post-communist soc, bc they focus more on close relations.

What does Townsend argue?

maybe it's a neoliberal project, but it also created new associational spaces; develop skills and makes citizens active. though tied to the donors ideologies and agenda, it still benefits citizens

What does the World Bank assume about civil society?

more cohesive society --> more democracy --> better economic performance. human capital (education) will effect economy.

What opportunities do the communist party and mass organizations in China represent?

opportunity to improve communication skills and organizational skills, but this is not necessarily transferred to political practice.

What does civil participation depend on?

people's faith in government; government's willingness to listen. visibility and prevalence of election fraud. degree to which political parties represent the interests of society. the degree to which people feel like they can affect the outcome.

Social association (Edwards)

presumes a high degree of voluntariness—that is, the ability of individuals to form, join, and exit associations out of their own free will (but belonging to certain ethnic or religious groups is involuntary).

Communist states on civil society (Howard)

repress all forms of activity; subverted activity by forcing citizens to join and participate in mandatory, state-controlled organizations.

Civil society factions (Foley and Edwards)

self-interested nature of associations + unbalanced representations of societal interests reconciled w dem. Associational life can thus be harmful to civil soc.

What was the state of things in China 1990s?

stricter regulations on the forming of social groups was introduced = must not pose threat to regime. This is continuously pushed back by new ways of mobilizing - particularly through the internet, which is regulated heavily (e.g. google - have to accept to limit access to certain sites), but is also continuously hacked.