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
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
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