The Civil Society and Governance

Discussion Notes
by CK Lal
 Time and Space

‘Or’ / ‘And’ debate

 What did you do
today?
 Everything happens
in space and time

Personal Space
• Person
• Family
• Community
 Political space
Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)
• Arena of contestation res publica, public sphere or
state as constituted by its
• Site of conflict citizens’ virtuous activity
• Site of negotiation and
agreement
• Cooperation for
existence

Woman is by nature a
political animal—
Aristotle
 Political space
The three-legged stool:

• State State
(government/politics)
IC

• Civil Society (society)

Individual

• Market (economy)

Market Civil Society

The State and Citizenry: Governance

The State promises: The State expects:

1.Physical and 1. Monopoly over
Human security violence
2.Basic Minimum 2. Observance of
Services
laws
3.Human Dignity
3. Payment of
and Respect
taxes
The Market and Consumers: Economy

The Market promises: The Market expects:

1. Value for money 1. Cost plus profit or
2. Deliver products premium pricing
that conform to 2. Unhindered
generally accepted movement of goods
standards and services
3. Satisfaction of 3. Sanctity and
needs, wants or inviolability of
desires property
Civil Society and the public: Civility

• No mandatory relationship as between

the state and the citizenry:
• Not negotiated as in the market and the
consumer.
• Relationship between the civil society
and the public is voluntary.
• The definition of the ‘Civil Society’ is
hence elastic and covers a wide range.
 Civil society
• Community Organisations
• Voluntary Groups
• Non-governmental
organisations (NGOs)
• Professional Organisations
• Chambers of Commerce
• Trade unions
• Environmental groups
• Women's groups
• Student organisations
• Consumer groups
And interest groups that
form on an ad hoc basis for
a particular cause
[http://www.wfuna.org/site/c.rvIYIcN1JwE/b.5327
“Civil Society is the
public sphere, outside of
government, market and
the family, where
citizens and a wide array
of non-governmental
and not-for-profit
organizations associate,
express their interests
and values and seek to
advance the common
good.”
205/k.8896/Overview_on_civil_society.htm]
accessed April 7, 2010
 The World Bank’s Definition
The World Bank uses the term civil society to refer to the wide
array of non-governmental and not-for-profit
organizations that have a presence in public life,
expressing the interests and values of their members or
others, based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific,
religious or philanthropic considerations. Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) therefore refer to a wide of array of
organizations: community groups, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), labor unions, indigenous groups,
charitable organizations, faith-based organizations,
professional associations, and foundations.
[http://go.worldbank.org/4CE7W046K0] accessed January 7,
2015
 Marxist Definition
Civil society encompasses both the
wide range of organisations outside of
the state and the family. These
include cultural and religious bodies,
voluntary organisations of all kinds
and organisations arising out of
economic entities, such as
professional or industry organisations.
[http://www.marxists.org/glossary/terms/s/o.htm] accessed January 7, 2015
 Functions of Civil Society
Includes, but is not
limited to:
• Awareness
• Advocacy: Non-
criminal (!)
• Mobilisation
• Facilitation
• Service Delivery
• Monitoring
• Record
 Importance of Civil Society
Agents of moderation • Non-economic and non-
state entity
• Monitoring Aid
Effectiveness
• Assisting Conflict
Resolution
• Promoting Democratic
practices
• Mobilising the
marginalised
• Exposing corruption
• Creating environment for
regional integration
 Strengths of Civil Society
Self-driven change agents
• High acceptability
• International
network
• Professional
operation
• Self-motivated
• Not bound by rules
• Irreverent
 Weaknesses
Good in protesting, • Careerism of
but often lack promoters
alternative solutions • Dependency on
Mass Protest in Tahrir donors
Square, Egypt
• Expensive service
delivery
• Takes up
fashionable causes
• Limited access
 Civil Society can’t be wished
away
• Care to be taken in administration-civil
society interface for ‘good governance’.
• Brief-case NGOs
• Family enterprises
• WGOs in the guise of NGOs (Tariq Ali)
• Profligate civic groups
• Accountability
• Rule of law is paramount
 The Governance Principle

• Governance refers to the Rules, Processes and

Behavior that affect the way in which powers are
exercised at the level of the State
• Subsidiarity (the Union does not take action, except in
the areas that fall within its exclusive competence, unless
it is more effective than action taken at national, regional
or local level) and Proportionality (any action by the
Union should not go beyond what is necessary to achieve
the constitutionally mandated objectives) principles.
• Five “principles of good governance”: Openness,
Participation, Accountability, Effectiveness and
Coherence. (OPAEC)
 Governance and Civil Society
Principles of good Indicators of
governance   Participation
1. Participation, 1. Freedom of Expression
2. Fairness, 2. Freedom of Assembly
and Association
3. Decency,
3. Freedom from
4. Accountability, Discrimination
5. Transparency, and 4. Input into Policy-making
6. Efficiency 5. Respect for Rules
7. Effectiveness
 “The Promises and the Limits of Civil Society”

1. The Civil Society is a space where challenges to state power are

expressed through political practices.
2. Civil society has historically been associated with norms of
democracy, accessibility, participation, publicity, and accountability.
3. The institutions of civil society are associational, representative, and
deliberative forums, social movements, and a free press.
4. Civil society agents are neither in the business of
making policy, nor in the business of implementing
these policies.
5. Civil society agents are in the business of creating, fostering,
nurturing, and reproducing informed public opinion that can
be brought to bear upon the making and implementation of
policy through civic activism.
Good Governance and Civil Society

Influences everything, decides nothing

 Web Resources
Civil Society:
• http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/highlights/010705_civil.sh
tml\
• http://www.asd.org.np/download/lecture/transcript_of_neera_chandh
oke.pdf
Governance:
http://www.unescap.org/pdd/prs/ProjectActivities/Ongoing/gg/governan
ce.asp
Civil Society and Governance:
http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-
files/4098.pdf