civil society Jos Elkink Concept

Democratization Civil society

Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Jos Elkink
University College Dublin

8 February 2011

civil society Jos Elkink Concept

Concept

Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Democratization

Critique

Guest lecture

Basic argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

When citizens interact often, join groups, and trust each other, their relationships aid democratization by crystalizing and organizing opposition to a non-democratic regime.
(Paxton 2002: 254)

Basic argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

When citizens interact often, join groups, and trust each other, their relationships aid democratization by crystalizing and organizing opposition to a non-democratic regime.
(Paxton 2002: 254)

Once a democracy is established, this civil society helps educate citizens, articulate interests, maintain pluralism, train new leaders, etc.

Outline

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

Concept

Critique Guest lecture

Democratization

Critique

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Civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

People coming together around a common concern, a concern which is linked to the values of the wides society, and insisting that the major institutions - the state, political parties, and business take these values into consideration. (Caroll 2000)

Civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

The realm which constitutes the intersection between state and society (Habermas 1989)

Civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

The political space between the state and society

(Porio)

Civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Civil society is (...) the realm of organized social life that is voluntary, self-generating, (largely) self-supporting, autonomus from the state, and bound by a legal order or set of shared rules. (Diamond 1994: 5)

Civil society
Which implies it is distinct from:

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

society in general, as is concerns citizens acting collectively in a public sphere

(Diamond 1994: 5)

Civil society
Which implies it is distinct from:

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

society in general, as is concerns citizens acting collectively in a public sphere individual and family life

(Diamond 1994: 5)

Civil society
Which implies it is distinct from:

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

society in general, as is concerns citizens acting collectively in a public sphere individual and family life inward-looking group activity (recreating, entertainment, spirituality)

(Diamond 1994: 5)

Civil society
Which implies it is distinct from:

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

society in general, as is concerns citizens acting collectively in a public sphere individual and family life inward-looking group activity (recreating, entertainment, spirituality) prot-making enterprise and other groups with private rather than public aims

(Diamond 1994: 5)

Civil society
Which implies it is distinct from:

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

society in general, as is concerns citizens acting collectively in a public sphere individual and family life inward-looking group activity (recreating, entertainment, spirituality) prot-making enterprise and other groups with private rather than public aims political eorts to take control of the state.

(Diamond 1994: 5)

Civil society
It includes groups that are:

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

economic (e.g. trade associations) cultural (religious, ethnic, etc. associations that defend collective rights, values, etc.) educational (devoted to dissemination of information) interest-based developmental issue-oriented (e.g. environmental protection, womens rights, etc.) civic (human rights monitoring, voter education and mobilization, etc.)

Guest lecture

(Diamond 1994: 6)

Civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

So civil society encompasses groups that have a public or political aim, without being part of the political system as such.

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Civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

So civil society encompasses groups that have a public or political aim, without being part of the political system as such. To the extent that an organization (...) seeks to monopolize a functional or political space in society, claiming that it represents the only legitimate path, it contradicts the pluralistic and market-oriented nature of civil society.
(Diamond 1994: 6-70

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Outline

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

Concept

Critique Guest lecture

Democratization

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Brainstorm

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Thus dened, how would a strong civil society contribute to transitions to democracy?

Brainstorm

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Thus dened, how would a strong civil society contribute to transitions to democracy? How would it contribute to survival or consolidation of democracy?

Brainstorm

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Thus dened, how would a strong civil society contribute to transitions to democracy? How would it contribute to survival or consolidation of democracy? What kind of problems would you see with using this concept in democratization studies?

Proximate terms and synonyms

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Civic culture Social capital Pluralism Mass society

(Paxton 2002: 254)

Civil society and democracy

1. Controlling or limiting state power

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Opposition in authoritarian regime Consolidation through anti-corruption, institutional reform, etc.

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

1. Controlling or limiting state power

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Opposition in authoritarian regime Consolidation through anti-corruption, institutional reform, etc.

2. Stimulating participation, ecacy, appreciating obligations

De Tocqueville: voluntary associations may therefore be considered as large free schools, where all the members of the community go to learn the general theory of association.

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

1. Controlling or limiting state power

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Opposition in authoritarian regime Consolidation through anti-corruption, institutional reform, etc.

2. Stimulating participation, ecacy, appreciating obligations

De Tocqueville: voluntary associations may therefore be considered as large free schools, where all the members of the community go to learn the general theory of association.

3. Development of tolerance, moderation, willingness to compromise, etc.

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

1. Controlling or limiting state power

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Opposition in authoritarian regime Consolidation through anti-corruption, institutional reform, etc.

2. Stimulating participation, ecacy, appreciating obligations

De Tocqueville: voluntary associations may therefore be considered as large free schools, where all the members of the community go to learn the general theory of association.

3. Development of tolerance, moderation, willingness to compromise, etc. 4. Articulation, aggregation, and representation of interests (esp. for disadvantaged groups)
(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

5 Generating cross-cutting cleavages and pluralism

Critique Guest lecture

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

5 Generating cross-cutting cleavages and pluralism 6 Recruiting and training new political leaders

Critique Guest lecture

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

5 Generating cross-cutting cleavages and pluralism 6 Recruiting and training new political leaders 7 Sometimes explicit democratic reform goals

Critique Guest lecture

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

5 Generating cross-cutting cleavages and pluralism 6 Recruiting and training new political leaders 7 Sometimes explicit democratic reform goals 8 Disseminate information

Critique Guest lecture

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

5 Generating cross-cutting cleavages and pluralism 6 Recruiting and training new political leaders 7 Sometimes explicit democratic reform goals 8 Disseminate information 9 Economic reform requires support of political coalitions in society

Critique Guest lecture

(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Civil society and democracy

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

5 Generating cross-cutting cleavages and pluralism 6 Recruiting and training new political leaders 7 Sometimes explicit democratic reform goals 8 Disseminate information 9 Economic reform requires support of political coalitions in society 10 a vigorous civil society gives citizens respect for the state and positive engagement with it
(Diamond 1994: 5-11)

Critique Guest lecture

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Democratic transition:

Balance of power state - society

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Democratic transition:

Balance of power state - society Articulation, aggregation, representation of interests

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Democratic transition:

Balance of power state - society Articulation, aggregation, representation of interests Information supply to citizens

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Democratic transition:

Balance of power state - society Articulation, aggregation, representation of interests Information supply to citizens Mobilization of masses

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Democratic transition:

Balance of power state - society Articulation, aggregation, representation of interests Information supply to citizens Mobilization of masses Training ground for new leaders

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Democratic consolidation:

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Generate trust in others and state

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Democratic consolidation:

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Generate trust in others and state Educate democratic citizens

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Democratic consolidation:

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Generate trust in others and state Educate democratic citizens Enhance accountability, responsiveness, legitimacy of state

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Democratic consolidation:

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Generate trust in others and state Educate democratic citizens Enhance accountability, responsiveness, legitimacy of state Interest articulation Training ground for new leaders

Empowered civil society

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Civil society tends to grow with economic growth expansion of the middle class grassroots oriented development aid and can be constrained to dierent extents (e.g. totalitarianism vs authoritarianism).

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Consolidation

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Transition to democracy Consolidation of democracy

Attitudinal dimension
Stepan) (Almond & Verba, Welzel & Inglehart, Linz &

Behavioural dimension
(Bernhard & Karako 2007: 540) c

(Putnam)

Democracy assistance

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

Aid agencies can stimulate democracy through:

Critique Guest lecture

Conditionality of aid Grassroots support

(Fioramonti 2004: 741)

Democracy assistance

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

Aid agencies can stimulate democracy through:

Critique Guest lecture

Conditionality of aid Grassroots support

Democracy assistance can be done through programmes supporting specic political parties and non-oce-seeking civil society organisations (CSOs), but also through programmes aimed at strengthening new democratic institutions (parliaments, the judiciary, etc.) (...)
(Fioramonti 2004: 741)

Outline

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

Concept

Critique Guest lecture

Democratization

Critique

Guest lecture

Civil society: problems

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Normative concept

(Doorenspleet 2001: 189)

Civil society: normative

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Civil society has a strong normative component to it:

Liberal democratic worldview Democratic by denition

Civil society: problems

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Normative concept Denitional fuzziness

(Doorenspleet 2001: 189)

Civil society: concept

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Widely varying conceptualisations Dierent within transition, consolidation literature

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Civil society: concept

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Widely varying conceptualisations Dierent within transition, consolidation literature Liberal-democratic denition creates tautology

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Civil society: concept

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Widely varying conceptualisations Dierent within transition, consolidation literature Liberal-democratic denition creates tautology Public vs private goals unclear Public vs private organisation unclear

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Civil society: concept

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Widely varying conceptualisations Dierent within transition, consolidation literature Liberal-democratic denition creates tautology Public vs private goals unclear Public vs private organisation unclear How independent from state?

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Civil society: concept

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Widely varying conceptualisations Dierent within transition, consolidation literature Liberal-democratic denition creates tautology Public vs private goals unclear Public vs private organisation unclear How independent from state? Lack of dierentiation from political culture, social capital, mass mobilization

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Civil society: problems

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Normative concept Denitional fuzziness Problematic measurement

(Doorenspleet 2001: 189)

Civil society: measurement

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Lack of data available

Civil society: measurement

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Lack of data available Attitudinal: political culture surveys

Civil society: measurement

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Lack of data available Attitudinal: political culture surveys Behavioural: membership of organizations

Civil society: problems

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique Guest lecture

Normative concept Denitional fuzziness Problematic measurement Theoretical argument

(Doorenspleet 2001: 189)

Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Transition argument contradict consolidation argument?

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Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Transition argument contradict consolidation argument? Organizations can be non-democratic or anti-democratic or might encourage patronage, corruption, or discourage pluralism

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Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Transition argument contradict consolidation argument? Organizations can be non-democratic or anti-democratic or might encourage patronage, corruption, or discourage pluralism By excluding non-democratic groups, argument becomes tautological

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Civil society: argument

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization Critique

Transition argument contradict consolidation argument? Organizations can be non-democratic or anti-democratic or might encourage patronage, corruption, or discourage pluralism By excluding non-democratic groups, argument becomes tautological Civil society strongly endogenous (democracy creates civil society)

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Outline

civil society Jos Elkink Concept Democratization

Concept

Critique Guest lecture

Democratization

Critique

Guest lecture