N. Chandhoke, "The Civil and the Political in Civil Society", Democratization,
8/2 (2001),
Idea that civil society has become a consensual concept, and therefore has lost
some of its potency.
Civil Society represents the third sphere (de toqueville) and acts as a counter to
competition in the market and power/conflict in politics.
Definition of Civil Society
Writes that Civil Society emerged as a concept in Eastern Europe in the 80s and
embodied 3 ideas:
 it sought to limit formerly untrammelled power of the state by the
institutionalization of political, but more importantly, civil rights and the
rule of law.
 it sought to carve out a domain that would function independently of state
regulation.
 it asserted that the active engagement of ordinary men and women in
groups that were smaller than the state was a good thing in itself.
A fourth element has since emerged
 that people have the right to chart a discourse that sets out the
environment they want to live in
Focuses on the Cohen and Arato definition, where CS has the following
components:
(1) plurality: families, informal groups, and voluntary associations whose
plurality and autonomy allow for a variety of forms of life;
(2) publicity: institutions of culture and communication;
(3) privacy: a domain of individual self-development and moral choice;
(4) legality: structures of general laws and basic rights needed to demarcate
plurality, privacy and publicity from at least the state and, what may appear
more tendentious, from the economy too.9
Critique of definition
Author is critical of this definition as it is hard to demarcate spheres. He cites 8
reasons, often using examples from India, why civil society is interrelated with
the state and the market and does not have set values.
1. The state is a precondition for the existence of civil society (Hegel)
2. The state creates the demarcation for what is legitimate action i.e. law
3. The state frames the limits of civil society, as well as frames social
initiatives in civil society- civil society needs the state’s support
4. The state uses civil society for its own means. In order to ensure
legitimacy it fosters nationalism
5. Power is present at all levels of society (draws on Foucault) therefore CS
is not a sphere divorced from conflict and competition
6. State power rests on the power balances within civil society itself
7. Social capital (cites Putnam and Coleman) may not be useful in promoting
the general good/civic engagement. Examples of nationalists in India
8. Certain groups in CS defend and reinforce state power
CS is a precondition for democracy but it is not a sphere in itself.
His argument seems to me to be very influenced by Foucault and critical of the
rosy picture given to civil society in general. I found though that he tended to get
a bit mixed up with the aspects of power. His 8 points could well be 5!
N. Kasfir, "The Conventional Notion of Civil Society: A Critique",
Commonwealth and Comparative Politics 36/2 (1998), pp.123-149.
Critique of conventional definitions of CS esp vis-à-vis African politics and
society. Donors tend to support new (clean) movements which have no social
base embedded in society. An African definition of civil society must recognise
the power of the African state and captures social issues important for Africans.
Definition
Underlying argument is to expand the definition of CS to help explain social
dynamics rather than solely promote democratic reform.
Looks at various definitions of CS such as Walzer and Bayart (who highlights
idea of CS confronting the state). Is critical of limitations each puts on CS, but that
when we enlarge the scope of the definition it becomes much harder to separate
CS from the state.
Another definitions of CS is of ‘formal non-state organisations’ but suggests that
this creates a bias towards the goals of upper sections of society which have
means to create organisations (esp in Africa).
A common definition is (1) specific kinds of organisations and (2) those which
engage in organisational activity according to particular criteria. People who use
this definition consider CS as a important if not integral component of
democracy.
This particular criteria often ignores ethnic issues which represent a
fundamental aspect of society in Africa and therefore citizen’s demands. Admits
it is risky to include ethnic orgs due to potential for increased factionalisation
but that it is unrealistic not to include them.
The State
Brings up argument that with the weakening of the state in Africa since the 80s, a
new space has opened up for CS. However, patronage suggests that CS has little
autonomy from the state.
Literature on CS in Africa is not based on empirical data but rather a
extrapolation of western ideas and what these ppl wish for African CS.
The Idea of Civility
Whitehead- extends the moral dimension of CS to include civility. However using
this definition would not help to establish empirically whether uncivil
movements help or hinder democracy.
Whitehead also suggests that in the case of an authoritarian state, the denser the
civil society, the more likely it could be forced to begin a democratic transition to liberalise. In the case of a state undergoing democratisation, a more selective
civil society, one that excludes uncivil, inegalitarian and anti- democratic
organisations, may be more effective in achieving democracy - to consolidate.
Power structures
Section that deals with the internal structure of CS movements which have a
large impact on what the orgs promote. Good example of Ugandan church.