Three Decades of Social Transformation in Russia: From a Totalist Society to a Civil Society

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 179-193
Author(s):  
Ma Qiang
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Transformation

State, Civil Society, and Market in India: The Context of Mobilization

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oommen
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Economic Liberalization ◽  
The State ◽  
Theory Construction ◽  
The West ◽  
Market Mechanisms ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Communal Life ◽  
Intergroup Conflicts

Western societies have accomplished relative autonomy of the state, civil society, and market. The current thrust of social transformation in post-colonial and post-socialist societies also point in the same direction. This article traces the trajectory of autonomization achieved and/or attempted in these societies, and identifies the implications of the processes involved for theory construction. It is argued that in the context of mobilizing for change, privileging either state, civil society, or market would be a rash prejudgment. The possessive individualism of the West articulated in its rapacious market mechanisms alienates individuals destroys communal life. With reference to India, I trace out how the current tendency of privileging civil society as the sole agency to reestablish democratic values in past socialist societies-and relegating the state to the background-may foment serious intergroup conflicts. The recently initiated process of economic liberalization in the part-colonial democratic societies often ignores that there is nothing much to chose between the behemoth of the market and the leviathan of a state. It is suggested that only an equipoise between the state, society and market can produce a 'good society."

Co-Creation and social transformation: a tough issue for research

2020 ◽  
pp. 189-206
Author(s):  
Jim Segers
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Creative Process ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Direct Action ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Research Institutions ◽  
Research Methodologies ◽  
The Right

This chapter looks at social transformation through the lens of ‘tough issues’. The perspective makes the vast challenges communities are faced with more practical, which in turns allows for progress in the right direction through small wins. Many citizen and community organisations with a background in environmental, peace and third world movements have roots in direct action. Over recent decades, they have been moving from opposing developments to proposing alternatives. We use the words of de Certeau (1984) to describe it as a shift from ‘résistance’ to ‘bricolage’. This shift has brought them closer to more institutionalised partners like government, business, civil society and research institutions. While this rapprochement has proven beneficial to each party involved – research methodologies such as Co-Creation prove that notions like horizontal decision-making, anti-authoritarianism and self-organisation are no longer the preoccupation of informal actors solely – the different stakeholders have not become interchangeable. The chapter argues for the role of a third actor in a social transformation process. This actor is not a stakeholder itself, but through a creative process (“prototyping” in the case of City Mine(d), arts creation in others) becomes tactically linked to the important stakeholders.

CIVIL SOCIETY, RELIGION AND APPLIED THEATRE IN A KAIROTIC MOMENT - PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS ON A PROJECT ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE & TORTURE IN ZIMBABWE: 2001 – 2002

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-91
Author(s):  
Owen Seda ◽  
Nehemiah Chivandikwa
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Young People ◽  
Political Violence ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Social Construct ◽  
Theatre Arts ◽  
Applied Theatre ◽  
Perpetrators And Victims ◽  
The Moment

This article is a critical reflection on possibilities for social transformation and democratisation that can be possibly realised through collaborations between young people in civil society, African traditional religion and the Christian movement in contemporary contexts. In this context the focus on young people as key agents of change is informed by the frequent observation that young people are often the major perpetrators (and victims) of political violence and yet the least beneficiaries from the political spoils. The article analyses a project in the use of applied theatre to address political violence and torture that was conducted by the University of Zimbabwe's Department of Theatre Arts and Amani Trust some time between October 2001 and March 2002. The article uses that project to investigate and to illustrate some of the opportunities that can be harnessed by religious arms of civil society to strengthen peace in disadvantaged rural communities, such as we find in contemporary Zimbabwe, and which often bear the brunt of social unrest in times of political uncertainty. The study approaches time as a social construct that determines human agency and decision-making in order to adopt the biblical concept of ‘kairos’ or the ‘kairotic’ moment. The ‘kairotic’ moment referred to in this paper is the period between 1999 and 2008 when the Zimbabwean polity faced one of its severest national crises following protracted political contestation. This resulted in unprecedented levels of political intolerance, and state-sanctioned violence and torture in the country’s post-independence history. This level of political violence was perhaps second only to the infamous Gukurahundi massacres, which took place in the Midlands and Matebeleland provinces during the mid-1980s. We also view the kairotic moment as a critical moment for making a fundamental decision. It is full of both promise and danger, so much so that whether the moment ‘reaps’ hope or danger depends on how the moment is seized. We ask: Did civil society seize the moment to reap hope? In other words, we analyse whether various arms of Zimbabwean civil society took advantage of the ‘pregnant’ or kairotic moment to liberate itself. The authors adopt existing discourses on civil society and liberation theology to argue that whenever the time is ripe for meaningful intervention, there in fact exist immense opportunities for different branches of civil society domiciled in both traditional African and modern Christian religions to harness applied theatre in the service of peace and democratisation in the face of political adversity and uncertainty. 

Democracy and Modernity – When the Twain Shall Meet? Reflections on the Asian Conundrum

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHAN SARAVANAMUTTU
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Political Culture ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Important Distinction

This article examines the trajectory of Asian politics in terms of modernization and democratization. Going beyond broad generalizations about democracy's Third Wave, empirical evidence is adduced to show an affective orientation and lively appetite for democracy among Asian citizens and even states. However, in many instances, while the citizens are willing to democratize, the state is institutionally weak. Conversely, strong, high performance states ofen block the path of democratization. Historically speaking, modernity and its social and economic concomitants have been coterminous with the emergence and arrival of democracy, but, owing to socio-economic and historical disjunctures in Asian social fromations, such an emergence or arrival of democracy has remained tortuous and problematic. The institutionalization of middle-class driven ‘bourgeois’ democracy is clearly evident in many cases. However, civil society and political culture in some instances remain mired by a lack of political maturity and sophistication and a superficial attachment to economic performance. Many Asian politics have remained starkly authoritarian or simply undemocratic, even as modernization has advanced rapidly. Ultimately, the agency for democratization rests with a vibrant civil society. Again no necessary automatic correspondence obtains between modernization and the development of a vibrant civil society. The agency for such a social transformation has to be contestualized for different social formations. Finally, an important distinction has to be made between procedural and substantive democracy. For the latter to be sustained, it necessitates the engagement of citizens and civil forces on a multiplicity of social and political terrains outside of electoral politics.

Turning the tide: a role for social movements

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryn Jones ◽  
Mike O’Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Movement ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Change Agents ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Democratic Tradition ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter continues the book’s focus on social justice and change agents by identifying these concerns in the evolution of social movements. The authors argue that, in addition to making explicit criticisms of neoliberalism, social movement campaigners and their networks could also play similar roles to those previously taken by labour movement organisations as advocates and facilitators of classical social democracy. Their emphasis on more direct democracy in socio-economic governance might stimulate a revival of this recently neglected element in the social democratic tradition. In this respect the relationship between prominent social movement activists and progressive parties is likely to be crucial in future years. In particular movement activists may need to determine whether they can achieve a strong relationship between the progressive forces of civil society and a Labour Party potentially revitalized in its egalitarian and democratic vision. The key challenge is to channel the energy and idealism of civil society groups into more far-reaching political and social transformation.

Some Varieties of Utopian Method

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Levitas
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
The State ◽  
Proper Method ◽  
State Economy ◽  
Ways Of Thinking

This article opens with H.G. Wells's assertion that utopia is the distinctive and proper method of sociology. It outlines four ways of thinking about utopia which imply different methods, distinguishing a hermeneutic method from the imaginary reconstitution of society. The author finds common ground with Wright in exploring and endorsing the role of utopia, utopias and utopianism in transforming capitalism into something better. But this article focuses on two areas of difference: Wright's reliance on extrapolation from prefigurative practices, and the state–economy–civil society model that underpins Wright's work. It argues that we should take imagination and the imaginary reconstitution of society more seriously as tools in the struggle for social transformation.

scholarly journals Shaping Social Change with Music in Maputo, Mozambique

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taela, Kátia Taela, Kátia ◽  
Euclides Gonçalves ◽  
Catija Maivasse ◽  
Anésio Manhiça
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Social Change ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Citizen Engagement ◽  
Mutual Learning ◽  
Political Ideas ◽  
Source Of Information

In Mozambique, development programmes have traditionally drawn on music as a means to promote social transformation by educating citizens on key social development issues. Shifting the focus from music as a teaching medium to music as a rich source of information can provide vital insights into public opinion and political ideas, and significantly impact the development of citizen engagement projects. Maximum gains for development and civil society agencies can be achieved by mainstreaming gender into mutual learning activities between singers, audiences, and academics.

scholarly journals The Formation and Transformation of Poles’ Mentality after 1989: An Analysis from the Perspective of Social Philosophy

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-47
Author(s):  
Olha Hordiichuk
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Social Philosophy ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Negative State ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Polish Society ◽  
Civic Awareness

The subject of article is transformation as a multilevel social phenomenon, experience of transformation and modernization of Polish society (in the period from 1989 to the present day, including the turning point of the reforms in 1999 and the context of Poland's membership in NATO and the EU) and changes in its mental characteristics. Mental qualities play one of the most important roles in the processes of social transformation: they have their share in shaping the perception and implementation of attitudes, correspond to values, established norms of behavior. At the same time, they can significantly complicate the rapid mastery of innovation (both consciously and subconsciously), because one of the main functions of mentality is to counteract violent revolutionary-reformist transformations and to promote paths of evolutionary cultural, social and other changes. The study of mental features should clarify which of them were helpful, and which rather the opposite – hindered at the stage of reforms and social changes and the creation of civil society. These considerations are based on the assumption that destructive mental traits are mainly associated with many years of subjecting Poland to the power of other countries, especially the Soviet Union, which led to negative state experiences, which in turn translates into a lack of liberal traditions and a low level of civic awareness of society. A very important task that Polish society faces is abandoning outdated Soviet behavior, increasing the level of responsibility and activity, mutual trust and cooperation, developing social activity, strengthening civil society, which is the engine of change and the controller of local and state self-government.

scholarly journals Água: a experiência dos programas de Educação Ambiental promovidos pelo Departamento Municipal de Água e Esgoto (DMAE) no Município de UberlândiaWater: the experience of the Environmental Education programs promoted by the Municipal Department of Water and Sewer (DMAE) in the Municipality of UberlândiaAgua: la experiencia de los programas de Educación Ambiental promovidos por la Secretaría Municipal de Aguas y Alcantarillas (DMAE) en el Municipio de Uberlândia

2018 ◽  
pp. 253-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thaís Salgado Silva ◽  
Taynara Laís Martins de Oliveira ◽  
Maria Beatriz Junqueira Bernardes
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Sociedad Civil ◽  
Del Rio

A escassez de água tornou-se pauta de discussão entre os Organismos Internacionais, entes da Administração Pública e da sociedade civil para debater questões relacionadas à gestão e preservação dos recursos hídricos. Assim, reconhecida a importância dessa temática, o Departamento Municipal de Água e Esgoto (DMAE), autarquia do município de Uberlândia/MG, implementou os projetos de Educação Ambiental, Projeto Escola Água Cidadã e Projeto Buritis, os quais intentam, respectivamente, despertar, perante à população, a tomada de consciência sobre a importância do uso racional da água, bem como estabelecem medidas para a proteção e preservação das nascentes do Rio Uberabinha. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida, a partir de levantamentos bibliográficos e visitas técnicas à autarquia, a fim de enfatizar práticas de educação ambiental como instrumento de transformação social. The water scarcity has become the work agenda among the International Organizations, Public Administration and Civil Society to discuss the obligations for the management of water resources. Thus, recognizing the importance of this issue the Municipal Department of Water and Sewer (DMAE), autarchy of the municipality of Uberlândia (MG), implemented Environmental Education projects - Citizen Water School Project and Buriti Project - which aim, respectively, encourage the population to become aware about the importance of the rational use of water, as well as establish measures for the protection and preservation of the sources of Uberabinha River. The research was developed based on bibliographic surveys and technical visits to the autarchy seeking to emphasize a education as a skillful tool for social transformation. La escasez de agua se ha convertido en un tema de discusión entre los Organismos Internacionales, entes de la Administración Pública y de la sociedad civil, para debatir cuestiones de la gestión y preservación de los recursos hídricos. Asi, reconocida la importancia del tema, el Departamento Municipal de Água e Esgoto (DMAE), autarquia municipal de la ciudad de Uberlandia-MG, ha desarollado proyectos de Educación Ambiental, Proyecto Agua Ciudadana y Proyecto Buritis, que buscan crear en la población la conciencia sobre la importancia del uso racional del agua, así como establecen medidas para la protección y preservación de las nacientes del Rio Uberabinha. Esta investigación fue desarrollada a partir de referencias bibliográficas y visitas técnicas a la autarquía, buscando enfatizar prácticas de educación ambiental como instrumento de transformación social.

scholarly journals Mengusung Masyarakat Madani Melalui Radio Komunitas

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Dede Lilis Chaerowati ◽  
Nova Yuliati ◽  
Mochamad Rochim
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Community Radio ◽  
Community Members ◽  
West Java ◽  
Free Communication ◽  
The People ◽  
Communicative Actions

This article is about the phenomenon of community radio in Pantura Area, West Java. Radio communities maganed by, for and about the community are rapidly developing among the farmers and fishermen, including in Pantura Area, West Java. The focus of the study is the formation of civil society by standing firmly on communicative actions of Jürgen Habermas. By using qualitative method with case study design, a finding would be produced that community radios implement participatory paradigm and manage community cohesion. We will discuss in details on: (1) initiators of the establishment of community radio, (2) forms of community participation, (3) the financing source of community radio, and (4) the construction of civil society through community radio. This article also covers about how the people see the world of life, that there is social transformation through emancipatordialogs, which then produce community’s selfconsciousness  as individuals and community members in demanding a domination-free communication process. This reality creates the origination of civil society.

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