CIVIL SOCIETY
Definition and Nature of Civil Society:
The term civil society is derived from the Latin word civil is societies which means associations or
communities that work above and beyond the state. Civil society thus consists of a host of institutions
that look after the activities, which are not taken up by the state.
These may relate to various religious, cultural, economic and other activities of society. The medieval
church of Europe, Hindu Maths, Sikh Gurdwaras, Muslim Mosques, and other religious trusts in India,
caste and kinship associations, business, sports, cultural associations, etc., represents the civil society.
What Is Civil Society?
Initially, Civil Society used to be defined as a political community i.e. a society governed by the
government, law and authority. In contemporary times, however, Civil Society is distinguished from
the state and political community. It means nongovernmental, private, voluntarily organized
associations or institutions of the people, through which they try to secure their needs, desires and
objectives.
Such associations and organisations work independently of the government. Civil Society even opposes
the wrong politics, decisions and projects of the government. In doing so the civil society depends upon
constitutional, peaceful and legal method of action.
Meaning and Definition:
The term Civil Society is used to collectively refer to the voluntary organizations corporate bodies,
socially active groups, and firms working in each society.
“Civil Society is the set of intermediate associations which is neither the state nor the family, but which
plays an active and positive role in social, economic, and cultural activities.”
According to Andrew Heywood, “Civil society refers to “a realm of associations, business, interest
groups, classes’ families and so on.”
Civil Society includes all private organizations of the people. Press, professional associations of the
people, Human Right groups and organizations, voluntary social service organizations, and in fact, all
NGOs working in society.
In other words, Civil Society refers to the effective presence of non- governmental autonomous groups
and associations, business groups, interest groups, trade unions, voluntary social service organizations,
in fact, all non-governmental organizations, and groups working for securing public interests and
welfare by their self efforts.
Features of Civil Society:
1. Civil Society consists of non-governmental, voluntarily organized associations, organizations and
institutions of the people.
2. Civil Society is different from both the State and Society.
3. Civil Society is, however, neither opposed to state nor to society. On the contrary it works as a
supplementary to each of the two. It, however, works in an organized and autonomous way.
4. A healthy and efficient democratic system needs and integrates civil society, society and state.
5. Civil Society is constituted by the well-organised and active presence of a number of social, economic
and cultural associations and groups of the people.
6. Both Liberalism and Marxism accept and advocate the role of Civil Society but each conceptualizes
it in a different way.
Role of Civil Society:
1. Civil Society as an instrument for securing rights and interests of the people:
Civil Society works for discharging several economic, social, cultural, moral and other responsibilities
which fall in the domain of private activities. It is not a part of government and yet it serves the purpose
of securing the rights, general welfare and development of all the people of the state.
2. Growing strength and Role of Civil Society in our Country:
In our country the Civil Society has been becoming more and more aware, alert and active. The
continuous presence and successful working of Indian liberal democratic political system, the spread of
literacy, the freedom of mass media, the existence of a very broad based decentralized local self-
government system, the presence of a direct, homogeneous and democratic process of Political
Socialization and people’s full commitment to liberal democracy have been together helping the Civil
Society to become increasingly active and strong.
3. Need of Civil Society in undemocratic states:
Civil Society is needed even in an authoritarian system because it can help the process of overthrow of
the authoritarian regime and replace it with a democratic system.
Characteristics of Civil Society
These three systems and three principles combine to articulate nine measurable characteristics of civil
society.
“The Commons”
Civil society is advanced when citizens share a social right of access to the commonwealth of resources
produced, used, and exchanged through natural and social economies in a community and through a
society. Access, in this context, includes the abilities both to contribute to the resources and to benefit
from them.
“Office”
Civil society is advanced when citizens can exercise their civic duty of self-governance by participating
in political structures that exhibit decentralized power and authority. Community-based civic
engagement in political governance exists when community members have the opportunity to hold
positions or “offices” of public decision-making and leadership.
Associations
Civil society is advanced when citizens can openly and voluntarily participate in diverse social
affiliations, groups, networks, and structures for self-governance and social transformation.
“Association” refers to those social places where people gather and interact with others to exchange
ideas, offer support, and receive a sense of belonging. Community-based civic engagement in systems
of social exchange exists when diverse social groups and gatherings are present and permeable.
Trusteeship
Civil society is advanced when citizens hold decision-making power, work to strengthen and improve
local and regional economies, and exercise sustainable and socially transparent stewardship of societal
resources (e.g., human, social, material, and ecological) on behalf of the “common good.” Community-
based activities of civic responsibility in systems of economic development exist when citizens enjoy
the legitimate authority of resource trusteeship.
Sovereignty
Civil society is advanced when citizens have the right to be involved in all aspects of political
governance and the authority to make decisions and perform actions affecting all levels of public life,
without the institutions of public life being “captured” by the interests of specific groups or individuals.
Accountability
Civil society is advanced when citizens, acting through community-based groups and associations, are
able to use basic civic freedoms and rights (e.g., fair elections, free speech, a free press providing access
to information, freedom to organize in groups) to hold economic and political actors responsible for the
outcomes of policies, programs and patterns of resource distribution, and the exercise of political power.
Equity
Civil society is advanced when each citizen is given equitable access to and use of resources required
for constructing a satisfying and satisficing life. A moral condition of equity forms the foundation of
activities that expand and strengthen economic conditions for all community members. Economic
equity of resources is necessary for producing and sustaining an improved quality of life for all people,
especially the poor.
Justice
Civil society is advanced when citizens pursue social justice by (1) consistently and compassionately
using the “rule of law” in fulfillment of their civic obligations, and (2) advocating for those excluded
from the political process and harmed by unjust laws.
Reciprocity
Civil society is advanced when citizens (1) pursue social transformation through reciprocal, mutually
dependent collaboration with others, and (2) negotiate, mediate, and resolve conflict through peaceful,
nonviolent means. The nature of civic environments requires that social relationships in communities
be limited and conditional. Not everyone in a society is invariably viewed as a legitimate member and
given equal access to its resources.
