Civil Society

Question 1

Define the concept of civil society?

Answer 1

It is the framework where those without political authority live their lives.

.Basically, how interest groups interact with eachother outside of “parliament”

• NGOs like Red Cross, and Muslim Brotherhood
• Political Parties
• Religous oRGANIZATIONS
• State-funded Organizations

. Civil society is a space

. Civil society is norms and values

• Where Robert Putnam argues; a that it’s a social capital in which trust, tolerance, and cooperation are essential.
  b. the more social capital declines the less of a viable democracy it becomes.

Question 2

Discuss groups in a civil society

Answer 2

. Interest groups are the primary actors in a civil society

• they are inseparable from Liberal Democracy
• they are a more “rational” vehicle for political activism (cuz they bring real changes)
• they can be a source of division within society

Question 3

How would you describe “interest groups”?

Answer 3

They are groups with share similar interests that want to be heard in the political system

Question 4

How are interest groups different from political parties?

Answer 4

1. They do not want to be a candidate in the government

2. They focus on narrower issues.

Question 5

What are the types of interest groups?

Answer 5

1. Insider groups (ear of govt ( have support through personal contact and lobbying) )
2. Outsider groups (gather support of public opinion through campaigns and media, more likely to protest as government does not conform to their beliefs)

Insiders become so and so do outsiders depending on the government.

Example” conservative govt: Employers insiders, unions outsiders

Socialist governments 3ks.

Question 6

How is Democratization linked to civil society?

Answer 6

1, Organization
2, Protest (to push authoritarian regime out)
3, Lobbying
4, Reform
5, Democratization (sometime violence)

Question 7

Role of Civil society in Democracy

Answer 7

1. Stimulates political participation by citizens
2. Develops democratic attitudes: tolerance,moderation, compromise
3. Creates alternative channels for representing interests.
4. Trains new political leader
5. Disseminates information to citizens
6. Strengths the state

Question 8

Indirect role of civil society

Answer 8

1. Improves socioeconomic development

2. Creates social equity (helping the poorest)

Question 9

Why has civil society become a controversial term?

Answer 9

1. Authoritarian regimes see it as tool by westerners
2. Decreased popularity in Eastern Europe
3. In intellectual circles it can be seen as a form “WESTERNIZATION”

Question 10

How is civil society structured?

Answer 10

1. Pluralist Systems (interest groups around govt)
. Multiple
. Competitive
. Non-hierarchal
. Less state involvement

2. Corporatist Systems (gov, bzbz, unions)
. Singular (monopoly)
. Non- competitive
. Hierachal
. More state involvement

2 type:
State corporatism (govt will decide which interst grps imp):
State defins and controls society

Democratic corporatism( govt pressure from down):
interest formed from societal level up, and aggerated top level to negotiate with government.

Question 11

How the media should behave in civil society?

Answer 11

1. It should hold the government accountable

2. It should inform the public.

Question 12

Press freedom & the media

Answer 12

1. In Authoritarian Regimes:
   . Government respects people’s interests
   . Press shouldn’t attack government or its policies
   . News should support major policies
   . News and entertainment are selected for their social values.
2. In Democratic Regimes:
   . Governments are fallible and corrupt
   . Press should attack the government when it makes mistakes
   . News should stimulate critical thinking
   . News and entertainment should be tailored for mass appeal

Question 13

The media and democratic participation

Answer 13

Bad news: good rating
Sleazy news: good rating
Deep complex: bad rating
Because ppl have short attention span