Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship

Module 2: Definitions of Community

LESSON 2: CIVIL SOCIETY PERSPECTIVE

When we think about civil society, we think about people and groups, including the fundamental belief
structures that bind them together toward a shared goal. Civil society is commonly referred to as the "third
sector", with the government and private sectors as the other two. The importance of civil society will be
explored in this lesson, which seeks to advance the reader's understanding and appreciation of movements
and the importance of mobilization to effect positive and sustainable change.

WHAT IS CIVIL SOCIETY?

Civil society is broadly understood as the combination of organizations, establish-ments, and individuals that
operate outside the influence of the governmental institution. The civil society in the Philippine context is all
about the spirit of community service. Communal spirit is shared by Filipinos through proactive participation
and where volunteerism can be found among many of its social traditions. These contribute to the values of
charity and altruism for the welfare of others and from which many civil society organizations, nongovernmental
organizations, and foundations pattern their values and mission.

The emergence of civil society groups is well received by development practitioners in varied forms. Such
groups are formed based on the customs and norms of the prevailing society. Groups that are formed under
these have individuals who can freely choose to associate with not just one but as many as he or she likes.
Since people have the liberty to do such, the groups act like leverage for particular individuals to be with
like-minded citizens. Think of these groups as an intermediary of the citizens in their relationship with their
government and the private sector. An individual alone will not have the same lobbying power as when he or
she is with a group that has more social capital as an enabler.

This combination of networks and relationships promotes clout in order to carry out the group's advocacies and
goals. Diversity is the fitting word to describe the world of civil society groups. Many of these groups advocate
the concerns or needs of various institutions. Each organization embodies an identity that is parallel to its
specific goal or principal advocacy. These groups are not just economic or political; many of them form out of
cultural, historical, and religious significance. The structure of how civil society groups are oriented varies from
one group to the other. A group can be nonprofit or for profit, formal or informal. The difference between groups
is not just about their source of income but also the network and advocacy they adhere to.

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ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS

The role of the civil society organization (CSO) is a very essential part of our liberal society. SOs are composed
of various actors, such as other groups, organizations, or institutions that come together to attain a particular
goal that is vitally for the greater good of society. The common idea about CSOs is that they operate outside
the control of the state and government but work toward the fulfillment of the same ends. When thinking about
the role in which people, organizations, and the state come together, forming the structures and functions that
make up the fixture of our society, we have to look into the gray areas between these relationships to explore
the importance of SOs in the social milieu.

State power may be seen by some as absolute. People under the power of the state are subject to its whims
and decisions. CSOs are the entity that somehow balances this kind of power. Think of a counterweight on a
scale, where balance can only be attained when there is an equal weight opposite to it. If the counterweight is
lighter, then imbalance would occur, indicating a wrong reading. The object being measured will be political
input and the counterweight will be how society would engage the state. In this analogy, the balance between
the two actors will result in a better reading or output. This relationship however is dependent on how the
institutional capacity of the CSO engages the government in different forms. Engagement in terms of policy is
dependent on the political context.

Power is the most essential thing to study in these terms because the strength of social groups only relies on
how their environment allows power to flourish. Other political structures and cultures tend to stifle groups by
restricting the rights of their members such as the right to assemble and to free speech. The absence of these
rights may cause the groups to lose ground and be disbanded. It is therefore very critical for organizations to
check the power of institutions, not only the state but also other groups so as to balance the relationship
between these very influential groups.

Remember that regarding the implementation of projects and in terms of how representation is achieved
across all classes and groups, the state can only do so much. A liberal democratic political system
acknowledges this complexity and thus is more pluralistic than other forms. One can argue that it is only in this
system that such groups exist, since in other forms of government where power is centralized, representation
can only be done by the elected officials. A very good representation of civil society groups in the Philippines is
the party-list representation in the House of Representatives, therefore engaging the state directly. The
party-list groups come from different sectors of the society, such as women, youth, farmers, and senior
citizens. Based on Philippine law, religious institutions are not allowed representation due to the separation of
church and state.

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NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS

As an intermediary, groups are structured and organized with a set hierarchy and are legitimized by an
agreed-upon set of codes, norms, and rules for their members. A nongovernmental organization is by far a
clear representation of how civil society groups, once they achieve a semblance of identity, order, and social
capital, can be a force in terms of lobbying and promotion of their interest. NGOs which operate on the fringes
of the political system are in a very advantageous position. This kind of positioning provides them the leeway
and opportunity to look at the bigger picture in both government and its people. It is like having the ability to
see both sides of the relationship while gaining the trust of both institutions. Gaining this kind of access, NGOs
dictate many of society's agendas by having the inputs from interest groups and individuals and distilling these
to a formal advocacy.

The characteristics of an NGO are the following:

1. Organized
2. Voluntary
3. Needs-oriented

NGOs are structured and have a clear distinction of roles among their members. NGOs can vary from
individuals to other social groups and they can have a local or international scope. The formation of these
organizational structures may differ from one organization to the other but they all assume formal titles and
designations. Whether the hierarchy is lateral or vertical, power is still organized and distributed in a more
systematic way as compared to other civil society groups. This promotes the stability of the NGO and ensures
the survival of the organization amid constant changes and shifts. Having set rules, standards, and norms sets
NGOs apart from other societal groups.

NGOs are formed by individuals who are willing to contribute to the cause of the group. People who volunteer
in these organizations may come from different backgrounds, classes, and cultures. With their varied
backgrounds, civil society groups tap into these networks to further expand their reach and support from the
populace. NGOs are needs-based and their goals revolve around a specific societal need. The formation of
these formal groups shows the need for other social assemblies to stand alongside the government to provide
basic services to the underprivileged. NGOs tend to reinforce the role of government by enhancing initiatives
that are put in place. Moreover, NGO initiatives promote the values and societal norms that liberal democracies
espouse.

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SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Comparing social movements with nongovernmental organizations, we can see glaring differences as well as
similarities in their roles. Non Government organizations are more formal, whereas social movements on the
flipside are informal. If social movements have bigger membership, NGOs are less cohesive and less
identifiable physically.

Social movements are, by definition, groups that exist for a sole purpose or issue and tend to fizzle out once it
is attained. These movements are grand and sweeping in its scale, of their members their impact is mostly
short-lived and fragile. Social movements exist through sheer will spreading their concerns in various
platforms, such as through flash gatherings and rallies. High mobility is another core strength of social
movements. NGOs play within the rules and regulations set by the state and reinforce structures, whereas
social movements are actually on the other end of the spectrum as they seek to challenge the status quo by
proposing a substitute, altering current trends, or totally fighting against conventions to set a new standard.

The strength of social movements relies on how society perceives the norm they propose to alter or the idea
they want shattered. Social movements have a more direct impact to society than NGOs, but the impact is
quite polarizing because of the progressive nature of the ideas they seek to advance. Their progressive ideas
tend to test the limitations of the state and formal conventions. While there is a need for the advancement of
social thought, this initiative can be very perilous for its leaders and supporters, such as the anti-discrimination
campaigns in the United States by the Afro-American community in the 19505 that turned violent and caused
arrests. Most notably among those arrested were Rosa Parks who became the symbol of resistance against
bus segregation. Her resistance against the segregation law sparked public debate on racial discrimination,
highlighting how laws and other structures were against the community. Such an idea created a movement that
shook the foundations of American society. Another notable sócial movement was the suffragettes in the
United Kingdom during the late nineteenth century. The suffragettes were a group of women who were part of
organizations that advocated for equal rights and fought for women's right to vote and be represented in
politics.

Social movements should embody the following characteristics:

1. Informal
2. Issue-based
3. Progressive

Social movements represent the collective disdain of individuals and groups against a prevailing system or
idea and are considered by many as more radical than other civil society groups. Their ways are more
confrontational than NGOs because of the emotion-driven narratives of movements that appeal to people.

While NGOs play by the rules to promote change and reinforce social welfare, movements coerce other
institutions via more aggressive means, from pickets and rallies to civil disobedience, to show their dissent.

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Social movements are having its heyday in interconnected societies nowadays and these movements are
more apparent than ever and many have already evolved into formal organizations backed by major
institutions and individuals. Their advocacies range across all facets of society, including family, education,
politics, economics, and religion. Examples of these movements in the present societal fabric are the LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) rights and the Occupy movement (economic).

INTEREST GROUPS

There are civil society groups that exist primarily to push for policy agendas and nothing more. These are the
interest groups, which may be composed of multiple civil society groups that share a common agenda. Interest
groups are actually the by-product of the interconnections across societal actors. As in our analogy in survival,
it is best for multiple actors to band together to achieve a set task. Coalitions are formed from these concerns,
and as such, have a bigger scope and social capital than if they were to push their agenda in separate groups.
They invite formal groups to join them and also welcome the support of social movements because of their
importance in building critical mass to push the public agenda toward their favor.

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