Types of Civil society

Introduction

The term “civil society” is ambiguous. It is used so frequently, in so many various ways, and in so many diverse theoretical, practical, and historical settings that current attempts to apply it to democratic philosophy are more obfuscating than informative. Nancy Rosenblum and Robert Post try to define a notion of civil society that encompasses the many civil society conceptions argued by its authors (Rosenblum & Post, 2002b). When examined through the lens of the Government, civil society is defined as a realm of social existence marked by numerous and particularist identities. The Government, on the other hand, is an inclusive domain characterized by overarching public norms created and enforced by official institutions when viewed from the standpoint of civil society. Individuals and organizations can form their standards, articulate their goals, and determine for themselves the internal structure of group authority and identity in civil society, which is a zone of freedom.

The World Economic Forum has described “Civil Society” as the “area outside of the family, market, and state.”

Body

Civil society is defined as “all sorts of social action carried out by individuals or organizations who are neither related to nor managed by the state” – European Union.

“The voluntary expression of citizens’ interests and ambitions, structured and unified by common aims, values, or traditions, and mobilized into collective action, is what civil society is.” – African Development Bank.

Types of Civil Society 

NGO

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) have a structured structure or activity and are typically registered entities and groups. States with limited resources and afflicted by weak administration and corruption have failed to bring progress to all of their populations throughout the developing globe. Alternative kinds of development have been attempted in this setting, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have increasingly been championed as a means of bridging the gap between citizens’ wants and existing services since the 1980s. Professional associations are part of NGOs. 

Alternative channels of service provision and/or holding governments accountable must be found where states are unable to provide sufficient goods, services, or enabling environments to assist citizens in securing livelihoods, or where disadvantaged groups are excluded from existing state institutions. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International NGOs neatly fit into this void.

However, early criticisms of NGOs linger, and their activities have been focused on service delivery rather than campaigning and empowerment. 

Labour Union

A labour union is a group of workers in a specific trade, industry, or corporation who negotiate collectively with the employer for their salary, benefits, and working conditions. A labour union, sometimes known as a “trade union” or a “worker’s union,” selects representatives to negotiate with employers in a process known as collective bargaining. Bargaining results in an agreement that specifies working conditions for a set length of time if it is successful.

Two focus sessions with civil society, one on a human rights-based approach to development and the other on the role of the private sector in development, will feature trade unions. 

Major Labour Unions and their Political Affiliation

1. All India Trade Union Congress – Communist Party of India.
2. Center for Indian Trade Unions – CPI(M).
3. Hind Mazdoor Sabha – Samajwadi Party.
4. Self Employed Women’s Association – Unaffiliated
5. Indian National Trade Union Congress – Indian National Congress.
6. Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh – Bharatiya Janata Party.

Community Organization 

Community organization, also known as a community-based organization, is a type of planning that aims to improve a community’s social health, well-being, and general functioning. Geographically, psychosocially, culturally, spiritually, and digitally bounded communities form Civil communities. Community work, community projects, community development, community empowerment, community building, and community mobilization are all examples of community organization. It’s a popular concept for organizing community inside community initiatives, neighborhoods, organizations, voluntary groups, locales, and social networks, and it can be utilized to organize people around geography, shared space, shared experience, interest, need, and/or concern.

Siddiqui developed a set of principles on evidence-based indigenous community organization strategies in 1997.

• Movement with a Purpose
• Detailed Panning
• People’s Active Participation
• A Multi-Group Approach
• The Operation of the Democratic System
• An Adaptable Organization
• Taking advantage of Available Resources
• Orientation to Culture

Self Help Groups

Self Help Groups are groups of 10-20 people in a locality formed for any social or economic purpose. Most of the SHGs are formed for the purpose of better financial security among their members. SHGs can exist with or without registration. In India, there are around 1 Crore SHGs with active bank links, involving approximately 10 Crore people. The total bank balance of SHGs in India is over Rs.7000 Crores and 90% of SHGs are run by women. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have wide anti-poverty agendas sometimes create self-help groups. Self-help groups are viewed as tools for achieving goals such as empowering women, building leadership skills among the poor and needy, increasing school enrollment, and improving nutrition and birth control use. Financial intermediation is typically viewed as a stepping stone to these other goals rather than a fundamental goal. This may stymie their development as sources of village capital, as well as their efforts to federate locally managed pools of capital, as credit unions have done in the past.

Faith-Based Organizations

A faith-based organization is one of the types of civil society. A faith-based organization is one whose values are founded on faith and/or beliefs, one whose mission is based on the social values of a specific faith, and one whose activists (leaders, staff, and volunteers) are most typically drawn from that faith group. The faith with which the organization is associated does not have to be classed as a religion by academics. Because it includes non-congregational religious beliefs, the phrase “faith-based organization” is more inclusive than “religious organization.”

Communities are also recognizing the importance of bringing faith-based organizations to the table when it comes to community health planning. Faith-based organizations are dependable, long-lasting, and frequently the community’s most trusted institutions. They are associated with practically every cultural and ethnic group, and they frequently serve as a gathering place for huge groups of people.

Conclusion

Voter education, electoral reforms, and periodic spotlighting of elected officials’ performance or non-performance should all be high on types of civil society’s agenda.

A strong and vigilant civil society can serve as a deterrent to corruption and a foundation for counter-measures. With the support of a free press, corruption can be avoided, monitored, and regulated. To encourage increased participation of civil society and the commercial sector in the government decision-making process, information and communication technology (ICT) is being used in governance systems. Not just the politics of the vote, but also the politics of the voice, must be respected by the state. Democracy’s promises can only be realized through civil society collaboration. A democratic civil society demands a democratic state, and a democratic state necessitates a democratic civil society. They reinforce each other.