Growing the Grassroots:

The role of civil society in democratization

Andrew Conneenaconneen@d125.org • www.citizenu.org

2010 Question #6

(Mean score was 1.44)

• Conceptual Analysis• No specific country examples are needed

• Students are directed to write up to 30 minutes for this section• 5 possible points

6. Many scholars think that civil society is

important for the development of democracy.

(a) Define civil society.

(b) Identify and explain one specific condition

within a political system that would enable civil

society to thrive.

(c.) Identify and explain another specific

condition within a political system that would

enable civil society to thrive.

•Civil society is composed of organizations that are voluntary and autonomous self-governing groups created to advance their own causes.

•It must be clear that civil society is separate from government, but it need not be political.

•Must include conditions, not just examples of groups.

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Definition

Conditions• pluralist• liberal • multiple points of access • democratic processes • free/fair elections • civil rights/civil liberties • freedoms of speech, assembly, press • rule of law • efficacy • political accountability • political competition • political freedom • political equality • political transparency

What were common student errors or

omissions?“Overall the responses indicated that most students were unfamiliar with the concept of civil society and had difficulties defining it accurately. Many students provided definitions of political parties or features of a democracy but did not demonstrate an understanding that civil society is separate from government or not necessarily political.”

How to teach civil society?

Robert Putnam 1941-Alexis de Tocqueville 1805-1859

How to teach civil society?

Ben Raue 1866-1961David R. Boyle 1948-2011

Russia’s Civil Society• “Imitation civil society,” Masha

Lipman

• Many NGOs remain untouched; protests have increased, especially regarding social issues; some have even succeeded

• Public Chamber channels and funds favored NGOs; Kremlin-supported groups such as Nashi etc.

From: Janet Elise Johnson-- ”Russia’s Dual State” available at the DC Corner at AP Central

Russia’s Civil Society• Sergei Kanayev--

Russia’s mad motorist

• Sergei Shoigu--Russia’s emergencies minister responding to 2010 wildfires:

“According to Sergey Shoigu, in order to protect towns and villages from fires, volunteer firefighting services similar to ones in USA and Europe, should be established in Russia.

“ ‘Today we have one quarter of the firefighters the USA has and half as many as Germany, if we take volunteer firefighters into consideration,” he said. “The USA has the same number of professional firefighters, and in addition to that, they have one million volunteers.”

China’s Civil Society•More dynamic and complex

nonprofit sector that has developed with governmental support.

•“Surprisingly robust response” to the 2008 earthquake by China’s NGOs.

Britton Roney, Charity Squared Consulting

Mexico’s Civil Society85 percent of all Americans belong to five or more organizations; in Mexico 85% belong to no organization. *

* Fedrico Reyes Heroles

CountryCivil Society Organization

sPer captia

U.S. 2 million 1/150

Chile 35,000 1/428

Mexico *

8,5001/12,0

00High profile examples of individualism:

• Musicians

• Drug barons

• Carlos Slim

Mexico’s Civil SocietyGay Rights in Mexico

City• Adoption rights

• Gay marriage

• Both upheld by the Mexican Supreme

Court in 2010

Nigeria’s Civil SocietyQuestioning Tocqueville in Africa

Carl LeVan • Democratization • January, 2011

• Associations often blend state with society due to ethnic biases and corruption within

the government.

• Hometown Associations are often an overlooked part of civil society in Nigeria.

• “Spirit of nationhood’ helped by the coalition that have worked to limit

presidential powers.

• Associations based on ethnic lines can push toward “atomization.”

Iran’s Civil SocietyIran in Ferment

Ladan Boroumand • The Journal of Democracy • October 15, 2010

• Three different groups of associations worked to influence policy during

campaign of 2009:

--Humans rights --Student activists --Women’s rights

• Government tolerated their 2009 activities because a large turnout was desired

compared with 2005.

Iran’s Civil Society

Iran in Ferment

• Humans rights groups emphasized the rights of Baha’i minorities that gained acknowledgement by

Karrubi.

• Women’s rights groups had been working on the Million Signatures Campaign, then organized

debates with Karrubi and Mousavi about gender discrimination.

• Students used the campaign to promote women’s rights, human rights and civil rights.

Iran’s Civil Society

Iran in Ferment• For the first time in Iranian politics, presidential

candidates reshaped policies due to influence groups.

• These groups only indirectly caused the post-election protests.

• BUT...these groups erred in underestimating the potential fairness of the election and suffered

debilitating setbacks due to the ferocious government crackdown.

Civil Society

Make it personal!