Consolidation and Civil Society Today’s Topics 1.Evaluation of concept of consolidation. 2.Definitions of civil society. 3.Purported roles of civil society.

Is Consolidation an Appropriate Concept?

Problems with the concept of consolidation 1.How can consolidated democracies become deconsolidated?

Problems with the concept of consolidation 2.How do we know when threshold of consolidation is crossed? –How many people have to believe and how strongly?

Problems with the concept of consolidation 3.Teleological aspect. –Assumption that events are naturally meant to follow this path. –Mirroring modernization theory. –Unclear where definition of consolidation comes from.

Problems with the concept of consolidation 4.Persistence of stable unconsolidated regimes. –“Delegative democracies” (O’Donnell).

Problems with the concept of consolidation 5.Definition of institutionalization (O’Donnell). –“Institution”: “regularized pattern of interaction that is known, practiced, and accepted by actors…” (O’Donnell)

Problems with the concept of consolidation 5.Definition of institutionalization (O’Donnell). –Neglect of strong informal institutions. E.g. Patron-client relations.

Problems with the concept of consolidation Solution may be to develop typologies of democracy, without assuming stages to consolidation. E.g. (Collier & Levitsky) –“Electoral” democracy. –“Delegative” democracy. –“Limited” democracy. –“De facto one-party” democracy.

Defining Civil Society 1.Civil society as a collective noun: NGOs Political parties? (e.g. Fish def’n.) Religious organizations? State-funded organizations?

Defining Civil Society 2.Civil society as a space. John Hall: Civil society a social space for human experimentation with identities. Larry Diamond: “Realm of organized social life…”

Larry Diamond Different from society in general – citizens acting collectively in public sphere. Intermediary between private life and the state. Publicly oriented rather than private ends.

Defining Civil Society 3.Civil society as values or norms.

Putnam Values of trust, tolerance, mutual cooperation. Not necessarily political advocacy organizations. Building “social capital.”

Roles of Civil Society in Democratization

Roles of Civil Society More important after than during transition. Weak civil society doesn’t mean breakdown, but hinders consolidation and deepening of democracy (Howard).

Roles of Civil Society Controlling and limiting state power.

Roles of Civil Society Stimulates political participation by citizens.

Roles of Civil Society Develops democratic attitudes: tolerance, moderation, compromise.

Roles of Civil Society Creates alternative channels for representing interests.

Roles of Civil Society Trains new political leaders.

Roles of Civil Society Disseminates information to citizens.

Roles of Civil Society Strengthens the state.

Other Roles of Civil Society (Van Rooy) Improving socioeconomic development.

Other Roles of Civil Society Creating social equity – helping the poorest.