POLB91H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Civil Society, Social Capital, World Bank
POLB90 – lecture 5
Define – civil society and social capital
Explain – two theoretical traditions and paradox of civil society
Civil society operational def
The World bank defines it as → the wide array of NGO and non profit organisations that have a
presence in public life. + expressing the interests and values of their members or others
ex. NGOs, labour unions, indigenous rights groups, charitable organisations, faith based
organisations, professional organisations, foundations
Civil society: theoretical def
• Intermediary realm → b/w state and family. Fam = smaller unit. State = larger unit and
the civil society is in the middle of that
• Populated by organised groups or associations that have some autonomy in relation to
the state
• Not autonomous to the state
• Operated in a Public but non state sphere
Critique of this def
• The criteria that civil society should have some degree of autonomy from the state ha
been criticised by scholars of non-western world
• Many non-este outies ould’t hae a iil soiet this def thei
assoiatios ae losel tied to the state. The ould’t eet the autoo iteia
• E. Chia’s NGO
Civil society (social capital approach)
• Thee’s decline in social capital in America if they stop doing things that stop democratic
power like the ladies bowling club, parent teacher groups, etc.
• “ie the’e ot politial assoiatios hih adae speial iteests
• Cut along social cleavages
• This does’t out as those goups hee u just doate oe i a hile it does’t
teach habits of the heart like tolerance, cooperation, civic engagement & how to behave
democratically
• And that shapes democratic behaviour
• He stronger civil society the stronger democracy
Critique of social capital approach
• Enthusiastic acceptance by scholar and policy-makers
• Notoriously
• Lack of critique of the structure of economic and political power, focuses on the poor
empowering themselves, not on the structures that undermine their empowerment
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Explain two theoretical traditions and paradox of civil society. The world bank defines it as the wide array of ngo and non profit organisations that have a presence in public life. + expressing the interests and values of their members or others ex. Ngos, labour unions, indigenous rights groups, charitable organisations, faith based organisations, professional organisations, foundations. The(cid:455) (cid:449)ould(cid:374)"t (cid:862)(cid:373)eet(cid:863) the auto(cid:374)o(cid:373)(cid:455) (cid:272)(cid:396)ite(cid:396)ia: e(cid:454). Civil society ii: proponent: kuron and michnik (scholars of eastern europe, what it is: independent civic organisations that have a degree of autonomy from the state. Solidarity trade union: classic example of civil society ii: challenge authoritarian state power, emergence of oppositional public space capable of self defence against the state, paved the way for reinstitution of civil society in poland in 1989. Paradox: civil society can both strengthen and weaken state power depending on political context. Democratic state strengthens state power bc it encourages citizens to work together or common good.
