Description
Book SynopsisIn the past two decades,''civil society'' has become a central organizing concept in the social sciences. Occupying the middle ground between the state and private life, the civil sphere encompasses everything from associations to protests to church groups to nongovernmental organizations. Interest in the topic exploded with the decline of statism in the 1980s and 1990s, and many of our current debates about politics and social policy are informed by the renewed focus on civil society. Michael Edwards, author of the most authoritative single-authored book on civil society, serves as the editor for The Oxford Handbook of Civil Society. Broadly speaking, the book views the topic through three prisms: as a part of society (voluntary associations), as a kind of society (marked out by certain social norms), and as a space for citizen action and engagement (the public square or sphere). It does not focus solely on the West (a failing of much of the literature to date), but looks at civil soc
Trade ReviewThe Oxford Handbook of Civil Society presents a kaleidoscope of views...The entries are concise and well-written, focusing on major issues of contention in academic debate, thus providing ideal readings for classes and for introduction to the topic. * Choice *
Spectacularly readable...Michael Edwards, its editor, has taken on the daunting task over the past few decades of actually trying to understand one of the slipperiest ideas social scientists and philosophers have employed over the past few centuries. Edwards has written clearly on the subject, has funded research and action to enhance this understanding, and in this volume, calls upon a talented network of his colleagues to illuminate the civil society concept in a remarkable display of good sense and intellectual persuasion. * Voluntas *
Table of ContentsPart 1. Introduction ; 1. Introduction, Michael Edwards ; 2. The History of Civil Society Ideas, John Ehrenberg ; Part 2. The Forms of Civil Society ; 3. The Non-Profit Sector, Steven R. Smith ; 4. Development NGOs, Alan Fowler ; 5. Grassroots Associations, Frances Kunreuther ; 6. Social Movements, Donatella Della Porta and Mario Diani ; 7. Social Enterprise and Social Entrepreneurs, Alex Nicholls ; 8. Global Civil Society, Lisa Jordan ; Part 3. Geographical Perspectives ; 9. Civil Society in the United States, Theda Skocpol ; 10. Civil Society in Latin America, Evelina Dagnino ; 11. Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe, Marc Morje Howard ; 12. Civil Society in the Middle East, Eberhard Kienle ; 13. Civil Society in China, Jude Howell ; 14. Civil Society in India, Neera Chandhoke ; 15. Civil Society in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ebenezer Obadare ; Part 4. The Norms of Civil Society ; 16. Civil Society and Social Capital, Michael Woolcock ; 17. Civil and Uncivil Society, Clifford Bob ; 18. Civil Society and Civility, Nina Eliasoph ; 19. Civil Society and Equality, Sally Kohn ; 20. Civil Society and Diversity, Hilde Coffe and Catherine Bolzendahl ; 21. Civil Society and Religion, Donald E. Miller ; 22. Civil Society and Spirituality, Claudia Horwitz ; Part 5. The Spaces of Civil Society ; 23. Civil Society and Government, Nancy L. Rosenblum and Charles H.T. Lesch ; 24. Civil Society and Civil Liberties, Mark Sidel ; 25. Civil Society and the Public Sphere, Craig Calhoun ; 26. Civil Society and Public Work, Harry C. Boyte ; 27. Civil Society in the Digital Age, Roberta G. Lentz ; 28. Civil Society and Public Journalism, Charles Lewis ; 29. Civic Knowledge, Peter Levine ; Part 6. The Achievements of Civil Society ; 30. Civil Society and Democracy, Mark E. Warren ; 31. Civil Society and Poverty, Solava Ibrahim and David Hulme ; 32. Civil Society and Peace, Jenny Pearce ; 33. Civil Society and Power, John Gaventa ; 34. Civil Society and the Market, Simon Zadek ; Part 7. Supporting Civil Society ; 35. Civil Society and Institutional Philanthropy, William A. Schambra and Krista L. Shaffer ; 36. Civil Society and Grassroots Philanthropy, G. Albert Ruesga ; 37. Assisting Civil Society and Promoting Democracy, Omar G. Encarnacion ; 38. Conclusion, Michael Edwards
