Teaching | Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Heidelberg University | Institut für Politische Wissenschaft, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg | 2021
Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Heidelberg University
Heidelberg
Germany Institut für Politische Wissenschaft, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
Heidelberg
Germany
This course is divided into three parts. The first section explores conceptual foundations of civil society; the second examines contemporary debates regarding its dynamics; and the last section sheds light on diverse trajectories of civil society in Asia and Southeastern Europe. At the advent of third-wave democratisation, civil society was celebrated as an arbiter of democratic change. Civil society not only shaped many countries’ democratic transitions, but also contributed to strengthening ‘diagonal accountability’ post the transitions. This positive outlook toward civil society can be traced back to a liberal tradition which considers civil society as a space that mediates private, state and market interests. For key Marxist thinkers, civil society actors potentially play a leading role in a class struggle and possibly a socialist revolution. Despite this optimism, realities regarding civil society are complex as civil society can and does foster undemocratic agenda. Authoritarian regimes tend to support ‘apolitical’ civil society groups and even establish government-organised non-government organisations (GONGOs), especially to deliver social services on behalf of regimes. In this way, civil society helps sustain regime legitimacy. What is more, rightwing and religious extremist movements can serve as a regime’s handmaidens through their vigilante activism that erodes freedom of expression and qualities of democracy. Through this academic journey, this course aims to offer a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of civil society in diverse regime types
