Civil Societies and Democratisation: Assumptions, Dilemmas and the South African Experience

Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory, 107 (August 2005): 65-88

13 Pages Posted: 4 Jul 2012 Last revised: 29 Oct 2012

See all articles by Lorenzo Fioramonti

Lorenzo Fioramonti

University of Pretoria; Centre for Social Investment, University of Heidelberg; Hertie School of Governance; UNU Institute for Comparative Regional Integration Studies

Date Written: August 1, 2005

Abstract

During the last years the term ‘civil society’ has acquired a relevant space within social and political discourse. However, despite its current popularity it remains an extremely unexplored and blurred notion in political research, especially with respect to its relation to democracy and democratisation. This is mainly due to a rather simplified understanding of civil society that does not correspond to the different dimensions and aspects of existing ‘civil societies’, especially in newly democratised countries. The first part of this article discusses the main assumptions regarding the democratising power of civil society and argues for a more comprehensive understanding of the diverse and often contradictory world of civil societies. The second part is devoted to the specific case of civil societies and democratisation in South Africa. The article maintains that not only are most of the dilemmas regarding civil societies in general applicable to the South African experience, but also that the introduction of democratic rule has significantly reshaped the action of local civil society groups. In recent years, while several organisations have been drawn into a corporatist pact with government, many other organisations and movements with relevant grassroots participation have been officially opposed by government as though they constituted a threat to democracy.

Keywords: civil society, democracy, democratisation, developing countries, South Africa

Suggested Citation

Fioramonti, Lorenzo, Civil Societies and Democratisation: Assumptions, Dilemmas and the South African Experience (August 1, 2005). Theoria: A Journal of Social and Political Theory, 107 (August 2005): 65-88 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2099103

Lorenzo Fioramonti (Contact Author)

University of Pretoria ( email )

Physical Address Economic and Management Sciences
Pretoria, Gauteng 0002
South Africa
+27 (0)12 420 4066 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.up.ac.za

Centre for Social Investment, University of Heidelberg ( email )

Grabengasse 1
Heidelberg, 69117
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.csi.uni-hd.de/

Hertie School of Governance ( email )

Schlossplatz 1
Berlin, 10178
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.hertie-school.org

UNU Institute for Comparative Regional Integration Studies ( email )

Brugge
Belgium

HOME PAGE: http://www.cris.unu.edu

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
60
Abstract Views
482
Rank
643,103
PlumX Metrics