Beyond the Objectivist Conception of Civil Society: Social Actors, Civility and Self-Limitation

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayhan Akman
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Actors

Challenges to immigrant associations and NGOs in contemporary Greece

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Apostolos G. Papadopoulos ◽  
Christos Chalkias ◽  
Loukia-Maria Fratsea
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Geographical Range ◽  
Legal Form ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Migrant Integration ◽  
Concentration Patterns

The paper explores the challenges faced today, in a context of severe economic crisis, by immigrant associations (ΙΜΑs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Greece. The data analysed here was collected between October 2009 and February 2010 and incorporates references to all recorded migration-related social actors operating in Greece. The paper takes into account such indicators as legal form, objectives, financial capacity and geographical range of activity, concluding with a typology of civil society actors dealing with migration issues. This study aims at informing the migration policymaking and migrant integration processes. By a spatial hot-spot clustering of IMAs and NGOs, we also illustrate the concentration patterns of civil society actors in Greece.

Inoculating the National Public

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitzan Shoshan
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Cultural Difference ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
National Community ◽  
Multicultural Diversity ◽  
National Question ◽  
Right Wing Extremism ◽  
Neighborhood Level

This chapter focuses on campaigns for the production of positive affective orientations to cultural difference at the neighborhood level. In the wake of reunification, the national crusade against right-wing extremism has supplied one key answer to the national question. The post-reunification resignification of the national community has proceeded under the slogans of tolerance, democracy, open-mindedness, and civil society, which have been promoted as the banners of the war against the peril posed by right-wing extremists. The chapter examines how efforts to mobilize forces to the cause of tolerance and love of multicultural diversity intertwine with the capacity of affective governance to effectively recruit social actors, just as much as they betray its limits. It shows how the fabrication and rebranding of German nationalism has held a fundamental stake in the management of hate.

Understanding Disenfranchisement: Civil Society and Developing Countries' Influence and Participation in Global Governance for Sustainable Development

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana R. Fisher ◽  
Jessica F. Green
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Global Policy ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Full Participation

This paper explores the ways in which civil society actors and developing countries are limited in their engagement in global governance for sustainable development. Beginning with the relevant literature about how these social actors face obstacles to full participation, we present the notion of what we call “disenfranchisement” to describe the condition of being marginalized within the global policy-making arena. We put forward a conceptual framework that outlines what we identify as the three dimensions of disenfranchisement. By dis-aggregating the notion of disenfranchisement into its constituent dimensions, we outline potential operationalizations of these dimensions. Through the dimensions, the framework explicitly describes the mechanics of disenfranchisement, outlining the reasons that these actors become disenfranchised. We conclude by presenting the ways in which this framework can be applied in future empirical research, which will be critical to understanding the challenges to meaningful inclusion of stakeholders in global governance for sustainable development.

scholarly journals Integración de organizaciones y empresas al territorio por medio de innovaciones sociales

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Portales
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Complex Form ◽  
Dynamic Aspect ◽  
Enterprise Integration ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Sociedad Civil

Abstract. Territory is a concept that has been approached from different scopes of social sciences. As a result of its study, currently is understand as a multidimensional and complex form, where not only take into consideration the geographical aspect and availability of resources, but also includes a relational and dynamic aspect. Consequence of this view it can be used as a framework to analyze the different connections that social actors presents between them, and the causes, implications and effects they have on the territory where theyoperate. The aim of this paper is to present how different actors have been integrated into the territory as a result of the breakdown in social roles that state, civil society and companies traditionally had been doing. These schemes of collaboration and integration can be understood as social innovations that generate socioeconomic processes aimed to improving living conditions for all inhabitants. The analysis is a framework that serves as the basis for thestudy of social innovations that occur most frequently in the current context.Key words: enterprise integration, inter-sectorial partnerships, social actors, social innovation, territory.JEL: O35, O10, M10Resumen. El territorio es un concepto que ha sido abordado desde diferentes ramas de las ciencias sociales, sin embargo, y como resultado de su estudio, actualmente es visualizado de una forma multidimensional y compleja, en donde no solamente se toman en consideración su aspecto geográfico y la disposición de recursos, sino que también se incluye su aspecto relacional y dinámico. Consecuencia de esta visualización éste puede ser utilizado como un marco de referencia para analizar las diferentes articulaciones que presentan losactores sociales que en él convergen, así como las causas, implicaciones y efectos que éstastienen en el entorno donde se encuentran y en los mismos actores que las generan. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la forma en que los diferentes actores se han idointegrando al territorio como consecuencia de la ruptura en los roles sociales que Estado,organizaciones de la sociedad civil y empresas tradicionalmente venían realizando. Estos esquemas de colaboración e integración pueden ser entendidos como innovaciones sociales que generan procesos socioeconómicos orientados a la mejora de condiciones de vida detodos los habitantes. El análisis realizado es un marco de referencia que sirve como base para el estudio de las innovaciones sociales que se presentan con mayor frecuencia en elcontexto actual. Palabras clave: actores sociales, alianzas intersectoriales, innovación social, integración empresarial, territorio.

scholarly journals Integración de organizaciones y empresas al territorio por medio de innovaciones sociales

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Portales
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Complex Form ◽  
Dynamic Aspect ◽  
Enterprise Integration ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Social Innovations ◽  
Sociedad Civil

Key words: enterprise integration, inter-sectorial partnerships, social actors, social innovation, territory.JEL: O35, O10, M10Abstract. Territory is a concept that has been approached from different scopes of social sciences. As a result of its study, currently is understand as a multidimensional and complex form, where not only take into consideration the geographical aspect and availability of resources, but also includes a relational and dynamic aspect. Consequence of this view it can be used as a framework to analyze the different connections that social actors presents between them, and the causes, implications and effects they have on the territory where they operate. The aim of this paper is to present how different actors have been integrated into the territory as a result of the breakdown in social roles that state, civil society and companies traditionally had been doing. These schemes of collaboration and integration can be understood as social innovations that generate socioeconomic processes aimed to improving living conditions for all inhabitants. The analysis is a framework that serves as the basis for the study of social innovations that occur most frequently in the current context.Palabras clave: actores sociales, alianzas intersectoriales, innovación social, integración empresarial, territorio. JEL: O35, O10, M10Resumen. El territorio es un concepto que ha sido abordado desde diferentes ramas de las ciencias sociales, sin embargo, y como resultado de su estudio, actualmente es visualizado de una forma multidimensional y compleja, en donde no solamente se toman en consideración su aspecto geográfico y la disposición de recursos, sino que también se incluye su aspecto relacional y dinámico. Consecuencia de esta visualización éste puede ser utilizado como un marco de referencia para analizar las diferentes articulaciones que presentan los actores sociales que en él convergen, así como las causas, implicaciones y efectos que éstas tienen en el entorno donde se encuentran y en los mismos actores que las generan. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la forma en que los diferentes actores se han ido integrando al territorio como consecuencia de la ruptura en los roles sociales que Estado, organizaciones de la sociedad civil y empresas tradicionalmente venían realizando. Estos esquemas de colaboración e integración pueden ser entendidos como innovaciones sociales que generan procesos socioeconómicos orientados a la mejora de condiciones de vida de todos los habitantes. El análisis realizado es un marco de referencia que sirve como base para el estudio de las innovaciones sociales que se presentan con mayor frecuencia en el contexto actual.

Civil Society from Historical to Contemporary Perspectives

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ardian Kastrati
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Family Relations ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
Normative Function ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Normative Role ◽  
Number Of Authors

Many scholars think that because of its ambiguous nature the definition of the civil society concept sometimes is meaningless. Civil society belongs to a group of sociological and political theory concepts such as freedom, justice, equality and democracy that are not clearly demarcated. At least two specific dimensions of the civil society concept are distinguishable: the theoretical and the normative role. In the context of theoretical role the concept of civil society analyzes dimensions of social life and social values, with citizens and civil organizations as key actors. The normative role serves to motivate and mobilize citizens and other social actors for the establishment and development of various contents and forms of civil activities. The normative function is mostly manifested during periods of transition from less to more democratic societies. Both dimensions of the civil society concept have played significant roles, especially in countries where the position of civil society has traditionally played a marginal role. Discussing the concept of civil society is quite fashionable today. Civil society is a popular term with politicians, academics and international agencies. We frequently hear politicians talk about the needs of the state and the market for a civil society. As a result, a number of authors and social and political theorists have stressed its critical importance in the processes of democratic change. The concept of civil society has been defended in various ways by a variety of political and social theorists. Today’s content of civil society does not result with a commonly accepted definition of the term, but focuses on whether the term should be a normative or non-normative tool of social science, and whether economic, religious and family relations should be considered as part of it. This paper will focus on the various meanings of civil society; a tentative definition on civil society will be introduced as well as various existing discourses of civil society.

Livelihood, malaria and resilience

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigit Obrist ◽  
Iddy Mayumana ◽  
Flora Kessy
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Cultural Capital ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Intersectoral Collaboration ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Kilombero Valley ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Web

In various parts of Sub‐Saharan Africa, malaria is endemic in areas where rain‐fed agriculture implies seasonal mobility from villages to paddy fields. Contributing to the small but growing literature on livelihood and malaria, this article examines the ways in which social actors mobilise, combine and transform capitals on the household and community levels to obtain malaria treatment. It emphasises the structuring force of cultural capital and argues that farmers of the Kilombero Valley in Tanzania develop a remarkable resilience to malaria. However, in spite of all their efforts, the web of resilience they are able to create remains rather weak and should be strengthened through intersectoral collaboration between government and civil society organisations and innovative interventions.

scholarly journals Mediating American hospitality: Mark Zuckerberg’s challenge to Donald Trump?

2021 ◽  
pp. 136754942110557
Author(s):  
Alison Winch ◽  
Ben Little
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Political Culture ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
White House ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
American Political Culture ◽  
The People ◽  
Socioeconomic Issues ◽  
American Society ◽  
Shared Meals

In 2017, Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, travelled America with a former White House photographer who took pictures of him sharing meals with families, workforces and refugee communities. These were then posted to Zuckerberg’s Facebook page, usually with a post by Zuckerberg drawing attention to socioeconomic issues affecting different American communities. This article argues that Zuckerberg is mediated on this tour as a worthy populist contender to Donald Trump, albeit of a centrist, liberal, corporate kind. In particular, divisions along the lines of race, migration and class, which have been appropriated and emphasised by Trump, are apparently bridged and resolved through the representation of Zuckerberg, and the promotion of Facebook as a mediated fulcrum for civil society. Zuckerberg is pictured sharing food with, for example, Republican voters in Ohio and Somali migrants in Minnesota. We investigate how the differences projected between Zuckerberg and Trump pivot on the commodification of hospitality, particularly the mediation of shared meals, American hospitality, masculinity and ‘diversity work’. We contextualise this analysis within an understanding of how Silicon Valley’s monopoly capitalism perpetuates inequalities in its workforces and through its product design. We also attempt to make sense of the different social actors involved in Zuckerberg’s mediated ‘Year of Travel’, including the PR team, the people in the photographs, the commenters, as well as the users of Facebook. Through these contextualisations, we argue that this mediated contestation of hospitality – who is welcome in American society, who is not and why – is central to understanding the tensions in contemporary American political culture.

scholarly journals Open Government and Citizen Participation: Perceptions between Civil Society Organizations and Government.

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Alejandro Ruvalcaba-Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
The State ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Open Government ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
The Government

The concepts of citizen participation and open government (OG) are increasingly being used by politicians, government officials, and civil society organizations (CSOs). However, there are differences about how the concepts are assumed and used by different social actors. The objective of this research is to analyze the perception of citizen participation and open government from the perspectives of two fundamental sectors: CSOs and government using the State of Jalisco, Mexico as a case study. The research question is: How are citizen participation and open government perceived in the State of Jalisco by civil society organizations and the government? This research presents statistical results of a survey given to members of civil society and public officials involved in OG actions. The results show a huge gap between the perceptions of government officials and CSOs; this affects the relationship between the two sectors, which can impede development and implementation of public policies.

After mobilization

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-96
Author(s):  
Iam-chong Ip
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Activism ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cultural Representations ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Cultural Orientations ◽  
The One ◽  
And Control

Abstract My research addresses how social actors “act upon” social change by generating self-interpretation and representation of social life on the one hand and control over values and cultural orientations against the authorities on the other. While the existing literature on social movements overemphasizes the moments of mobilization, this article examines the intersections of social activism, online curative practices, and their everyday life. For this article, I opted to depict three representative cases of Hong Kong young activists who joined the Umbrella Movement in 2014. I argue that despite their similar political experiences, there are three divergent forms of agency embodied in their cultural representations. They figure in contestations which increasingly alienate the politicized crowd from civil society and the establishment.

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