State-Society Interactions
State-Society Interactions
Learning Objectives:
At the end of the chapter, the students are expected to:
1. Define elections, political parties, civil society, and social movements;
2. Identify the different types of electoral systems;
3. Explain the contributions of civil society organizations and social movements to
Philippine democracy.
4. Analyze the nature of elections and political parties in the Philippines
Introduction
Civil society is state or situation of people living
in particular community or nation having shared
interest, values and purpose getting benefit to have
right of individuals, enjoying liberty, and to have
resources to develop personal potential.
Civil Society
Civil society refers to the arena of uncoerced collective action
around shared interests, purposes and values. In theory, its
institutional forms are distinct from those of the state, family
and market, though in practice, the boundaries between state,
civil society, family and market are often complex, blurred and
negotiated.
Civil Society
Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and
institutional forms, varying in their degree of formality, autonomy and
power. Civil societies are often populated by organisations such as
registered charities, development non-governmental organisations,
community groups, women's organisations, faith-based organisations,
professional associations, trade unions, self-help groups, social
movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy groups.
Civil Society
Government alone do not make democracy work.
Private initiative is also essential, including a vital
role for those institutions which are collectively
described as “Civil Society”.
Three Major Element of Civil Society
1. Diversity
It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual
differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political
beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive,
and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond
simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity
contained within each individual.
Three Major Element of Civil Society
2. Non-Government Organization
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization
created by private organizations or people with no participation or
representation of any government. In the cases in which NGOs are funded
totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental
status in so far as it excludes government representatives from membership in
the organization.
Three Major Element of Civil Society
NGOs: Emergence
Fill a gap in the function of the government
Stimulating agent for community development
Creates opportunities for the politically marginalized to become active
participants in the socio-political processes of society
Three Major Element of Civil Society
NGOs: Roles
- Playing as an intermediary mechanism between those who have power & those
who have none:
1. Plays as an alternative institutional setting to political parties, articulating &
aggregating socially relevant interests
2. Supplements government’s social delivery mechanisms
3. Privatizes policy implementation
Three Major Element of Civil Society
Typology of Philippine NGOs
1. DJANGOs (Development, Justice and Advocacy NGOs)
- commonly called development NGOs
- perform direct and indirect support service functions with POs
2. FUNDANGOs (Funding Agency NGOs or Philanthropic Foundations)
- grant-giving organizations linked to grassroots organizations through providing
financial and other forms of support
Three Major Element of Civil Society
Typology of Philippine NGOs
3. MUNGOs (Mutant NGOs)
- largely composed of government-run NGOs that are essentially extensions of the
state or personal interests of state actors
4. COME N’GOs (Fly-by-Night or Paper NGOs)
- fly-by-night organizations that package proposals to attract outside funding and
promptly disappear with the funds
Three Major Element of Civil Society
3. Democracy
[Link] Right
[Link] of Democracy
[Link] People
[Link]
Political Parties
It is a group of people organized for the
purpose of winning government power,
by electoral or other means.
Political Parties
A. Characteristics
Organizational structure w/ lines of authority and power distribution
Seeks to attract popular support in the form of votes
Recruits and fields candidates for elective positions
Political Parties
B. Types of Political Parties
Based on membership
Based on arena of activities
Based on ideological orientation
Left parties (Far-left), Center-Left parties, Center-Left parties,
Center-Right parties, Right parties (Far-Right)
Electoral Politics
Vital connections between state authority and
society, linking the structure of government to
other social groupings
Elections
A. Functions
“Bottom-Up” functions (People Government View)
“Top-Down” functions (Government- People View)
Elections
B. Voting Activities in the Philippines
1. Elections
2. Plebiscite
3. Referendum
4. Recall
5. Initiative
