Civil Society Normative and Analytical Dimensions

Transcription

1 FÜR PHILANTHROPIE UND ZIVILGESELLSCHAFT AN DER HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN 2nd Berlin Summer School in Social Sciences Civil Society Normative and Analytical Dimensions Dr. Rupert Graf Strachwitz Montag, 23. Juli 12

2 Civil Society Analytical and Normative Dimensions Introduction The Crisis of the Nation State The Emergence of Civil Society The New Concept of Civil Society The three-legged stool Conclusions 2 Juli 23, 2012

3 Introduction Dr. phil. Rupert Graf Strachwitz Director, The Maecenata Institute studied Political Science / History 40 years professional and volunteer experience in and with international NGOS / foundations / associations / civil society consultant to and about nonprofits academic work resumed Juli 23, 2012

4 Introduction E founded in 1997 Humboldt University, Berlin independent research and policy centre for civil society and philanthropy 4 Juli 23, 2012

5 Introduction German perspective Hegelian tradition general assertions on the trias of state, market, and civil society aim: thought provoking 5 Juli 23, 2012

6 Introduction Old tradition going back to Aristotle James Ferguson (Scottish enlightenment) New development in the late 20th century new definition! 6 Juli 23, 2012

7 The Crisis of the Nation State: Hegel s Concept (1820) t State Bürgerliche Gesellschaft Civil Society Business Corporations M 7 Juli 23, 2012

8 The Crisis of the Nation State: Gramsci s Concept (1930) State t Società Civile Economy M 8 Juli 23, 2012

9 The Crisis of the Nation State Catholic Social Theory (1930s) (the principle of subsidiarity) Marcel Mauss: The Gift (1924) Karl Popper: The Open Society and its Enemies (1945) François Perroux: Économie et societé, contrainte, échange, don (1960) Force Exchange - Gift 9 Juli 23, 2012

10 The Crisis of the Nation State The catastrophic effect of fascism The catastrophic effect of totalitarian regimes The long path to democracy after 1945 The slow process of European integration 10 Juli 23, 2012

11 The Crisis of the Nation State Popular protest movements (Japan, Korea, US, Europe (1960s 1968 )) The rise of organized human rights groups in CEE (after 1975) The evolution of environmental and nature conservation organisations (around 1980) The crisis of the welfare state (1980s) The rise of nongovernmental, non-commercial service providers (1980s) 11 Juli 23, 2012

12 The Crisis of the Nation State State and Market Failures (1980s 2008) Citizens disenchantment with the state disenchantment with the market 12 Juli 23, 2012

13 The crisis of the nation state: Disenchantment with the state 13 Juli 23, 2012

14 The crisis of the nation state: Disenchantment with the market 14 Juli 23, 2012

15 The Emergence of Civil Society The need for civic values The need for active citizenship The need for watchdogs An emphasis on human and civil rights A growing belief in cooperative action 15 Juli 23, 2012

16 The Emergence of Civil Society: Revisiting Traditions of Civic Action Volunteerism (Red Cross /church affiliated organisations, &c.) Charity Civic organisations The résistance tradition Philanthropy 16 Juli 23, 2012

17 The Emergence of Civil Society: Theoretical basis Habermas: The structural transformation of the public sphere (1962, English 1989) Etzioni: The active society (1968) Luhmann: Society as a Social System1997) 17 Juli 23, 2012

18 The Emergence of Civil Society: The emergence of NGO / NPO The rise of green parties (1980s) Increase in NGO welfare production NGO interfere with international politics (Red Cross +) The success of civil rights activities in CEE 1989/1991 NPO 5% of GDP (JHCNP) The explosion of communication Who are they? 18 Juli 23, 2012

19 The emergence of civil society: Policy European Commission: The Role of Associations and Foundations in Europe (1998) Anthony Giddens: The Third Way (1998) In the work I gave a lot of attention to civil society the Big Society, as the Tories now call it. Yet civil society will not flourish if the state is pared back. Public goals can best be achieved if there is an effective and dynamic balance between the state, marketplace and the civic order. Each acts as a check on the other and also provides a stimulus and challenge to them. (2010) 19 Juli 23, 2012

20 The New Concept of Civil Society Role Model A different from military : concentrating on civility Role Model B different from the state and the market: concentrating on gifts 20 Juli 23, 2012

21 The New Concept of Civil Society Role Model A: normative Role Model B: descriptive Internationally, role model B prevails! This entails that civil society is not inherently good ; there is a dark side of civil society. Civil Society does not equate to democracy or to a civic society. Role Model A leads into several dilemmas. 21 Juli 23, 2012

22 The New Concept of Civil Society Market State CITIZEN Civil Society 22 Juli 23, 2012

23 The New Concept of Civil Society: Definition Civil Society comprises the formal and informal institutions, bodies and activities, which v have been voluntary established, v enjoy a minimum of coherence, v enjoy a minimum of sustainability, v are not primarily interested in making profits, v do not distribute profits to members or owners, v do not perform coercive government tasks, v have established autonomous governance procedures. 23 Juli 23, 2012

24 The New Concept of Civil Society: Academic Analysis Salamon and Anheier: The Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project ( ) Cohen and Arato: Civil Society and Political Theory (1994) Robert Putnam: Making Democracy Work (1994) John Keane: The Life and Death of Democracy ( Monitory Democracy ) (2009) 24 Juli 23, 2012

25 The New Concept of Civil Society Three arenas of societal action a model, not a system An analytical method of describing different forms of collective societal action Fabric of modern society rests upon the existence and development of all three arenas. A way to understand different systems of action 25 Juli 23, 2012

26 The New Concept of Civil Society Civil Society is voluntary not-for profit non-governmental purpose-driven not necessarily democratic about giving public interest 26 Juli 23, 2012

27 The New Concept of Civil Society: Forms organized civil society social movements citizen action groups other supportive neutral subversive 27 Juli 23, 2012

28 The New Concept of Civil Society: Tasks 1. provision of services 2. advocacy 3. self-help 4. intermediary 5. watchdog 6. social cohesion 28 Juli 23, 2012

29 The New Concept of Civil Society: Resources Ø fees for purpose related service provision (including government contracts) Ø non-related market income Ø voluntary contributions (monetary and non-monetary) Ø government subsidies 29 Juli 23, 2012

30 The New Concept of Civil Society A civic society will define society from the citizen, encompass all 3 arenas of collective societal action, accord a political role to civil society. In a normative sense, civil society has a political, not a moral dimension. 30 Juli 23, 2012

31 The three-legged stool Civil Society Gift State Market Force Exchange 31 Juli 23, 2012

32 The three-legged stool Caveat: not to pass moral judgement on the value, motives, ethics &c. of the gift (see Marcel Mauss et al.) 32 Juli 23, 2012

33 The three-legged stool: The Market the private sector bottom-line driven profit-driven private interests private ownership not democratic trading provision of goods and services provision of work places non-governmental 33 Juli 23, 2012

34 The three-legged stool: The Market Funded by Ø market income (payment for goods and services) Ø occasional government subsidies 34 Juli 23, 2012

35 The three-legged stool: The State governmental democratic public interest enforcementdriven policy provision of services and goods representation of common interest provision of security law makers and enforcers 35 Juli 23, 2012

36 The three-legged stool: The State Funded by Ø imposed taxation Ø imposed fees Ø market income Ø occasional voluntary contributions 36 Juli 23, 2012

37 The three-legged stool The state functions in hierarchies. The market functions in profit centres. Civil society functions in networks. 37 Juli 23, 2012

38 Conclusions The three-legged stool for: overcoming the nation state checks and balances a competition of ideas collaborative action and networking citizen s participation ownership 38 Juli 23, 2012

39 Conclusions Why look at society this way? Suggestive evidence for any division into 3 sets Ample empirical evidence for the power and strength of non-governmental and non-profitmaking action Evidence for action driven by convictions and compassion (rather than power and/or self-interest) Methodological tool for understanding differing approaches 39 Juli 23, 2012

40 Conclusions No arena is consistent in itself: Ø foundations vs. citizen action groups, Ø national vs. local government, Ø global corporations vs. small private businesses. There are exceptions to the rule. Hybrids and borderline cases exist. Pluralism entails diversity and inequality of approaches. 40 Juli 23, 2012

41 Conclusions: Expectations in preconceived notions The Market Power Profit Self interest The State Force Regulation Political Bias Civil Society Trouble-making Chaos nimby-ism 41 Juli 23, 2012

42 Conclusions: Expectations in the real world The Market Business Models Funding Support The State Governance Funding Legitimacy Civil Society Cheap workforce Funding Support 42 Juli 23, 2012

43 Conclusions: Expectations in an ideal world The Market Efficiency Governance Funding Citizen Legitimacy The State Legal Framework Enforcement Funding Civil Society Advocacy Volunteerism Creativity Compassion 43 Juli 23, 2012

44 Conclusions The state should expect civil society to provide ideas and solutions, public discussion, civic engagement, social capital, volunteer action; the market to provide business solutions, management of issues, recognition of general interest. 44 Juli 23, 2012

45 Conclusions The market should expect the state to provide a stable legal framework, a functioning infrastructure; civil society to provide ideas and solutions, civicness, social capital. 45 Juli 23, 2012

46 Conclusions Civil society should expect the market to provide business solutions, management support; the state to provide a stable legal framework, funding for public interest programmes, recognition of civil society advocacy. 46 Juli 23, 2012

47 Conclusions The citizen should expect civil society to provide respect and compassion a recognition of pluralism a watchdog function an organisational framework for volunteer action a model of participation 47 Juli 23, 2012