351 – Contemporary Politics of the Middle East
Summer 2010

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A system of social interaction that includes culture and social organization

Status (rank in society)

Role (expected behavior associated with a particular status

Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

Primary and Secondary Associations


Civil society as a set of organized groups/associations, whose members deliberate about social or political issues or act collectively to accomplish common goals.

“the place where a mélange of groups, associations, clubs, guilds, syndicates, federations, unions, parties, and groups come together to provide a buffer between state and citizen.”

Counterweight to the state

TRANSNATIONAL
CIVIL SOCIETY AND
ADVOCACY
NETWORKS
Political society
(e.g., political parties)
CIVIL
SOCIETY
Domestic society
(family, kinship networks)
ECONOMY
STATE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
TRANSNATIONAL REGIMES: UN, EU,
WTO, WORLD BANK, IMF.
European Union
Source: Jan Kubik, Rutgers University, Comparative Proseminar



Public Sphere – where people congregate to discuss societal issues and transform discussion into political action

Educated populace, performances of knowledge, enlightened (and critical) debate
 help people to develop attachments to the nation outside of the formal institutions of government

Pluralism & inclusivity, but hierarchy


place of receiving associates

Gathering place to facilitate discussion & deliberation about important issues, and build consensus

Similar to a ‘town hall’ meeting, but less formal and continuously taking place, and more social

Politics of deliberation, alliance formation, activism, and contention

Locus of pro-democracy movement in 1980s-90s

Locus of nationalist activism during Iraqi occupation

Political Campaigns


Secondary group relations, not primary

Openness and inclusivity (public); civil in their behavior

Legally recognized

Produce dense networks of social relationship based on trust and reciprocity (social capital)

**Tolerant and moderate in their claims; Supportive of democratic reform


What is a network?

A complex set of relationships between individuals and organized groups of individuals

Generates feelings of solidarity

Collective “we” that is often sub-national

Reified by regular associations among individuals

Based on trust and continued associations

Strongest predictor of recruitment into activist organization?  knowing someone already involved

Web of Social Affiliations or Social Network
B
A
Some Types of Ties
Professional
C
Family
Romance
Business
D


Membership-based Professional Groups

Ex: Lawyer’s organizations (like Bar Association)

NGOs

Ex: Widows for Peace (micro-credit); Iraq Health Aid
Organization (basic nursing skills); require registration

Public Interest Advocates – human rights, watchdogs, thinktanks, etc.

Unions

Ex: Labor Unions exist in most, if not all, Arab states

Regulated by gov’t (public funding; constrains activism)

Informal Social Groups and Networks

Iraqi Youth League in Jordan; Internat’l. Pal. Youth League


Minimalist (process) definitions


Substantive definitions (& preconditions)
"democracy is not attained simply by making institutional changes or through elite level maneuvering. Its survival depends also on the values and beliefs of ordinary citizens."

Civic Culture
(Tessler on attitudes)

Pride and emotional investment in the nation & pol. system
 Expectation of fair treatment from government authorities

Relative freedoms of speech and expression about political issues
 Tolerance toward groups/parties/orgs you disagree with

Valuing of active participation (in local government, parties, & civic associations)
 Self-confidence in one's competence to participate in politics

Civic cooperation and trust
 Membership in a voluntary association

Social Capital