Civil Society in the Arab World… towards democracy?

1. Civil Society in the Arab World… towards democracy? 351 – Contemporary Politics of the Middle East Summer 2010

2. What is Society? • A system of social interaction that includes culture and social organization • Status (rank in society) • Role (expected behavior associated with a particular status • Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft • Primary and Secondary Associations

3. What is Civil Society? • Civil society as a set of organized groups/associations, whose members deliberate about social or political issues or act collectively to accomplish common goals. • “the place where a mélange of groups, associations, clubs, guilds, syndicates, federations, unions, parties, and groups come together to provide a buffer between state and citizen.” • Counterweight to the state

4. Source: Jan Kubik, Rutgers University, Comparative Proseminar

5. Two Examples of Civil Society (1) • Qat Chews in Yemen (Wedeen) • Public Sphere – where people congregate to discuss societal issues and transform discussion into political action • Educated populace, performances of knowledge, enlightened (and critical) debate • help people to develop attachments to the nation outside of the formal institutions of government • Pluralism & inclusivity, but hierarchy

6. Two Examples of Civil Society (2) • Dewaniya in Kuwait - place of receiving associates • Gathering place to facilitate discussion & deliberation about important issues, and build consensus • Similar to a ‘town hall’ meeting, but less formal and continuously taking place, and more social • Politics of deliberation, alliance formation, activism, and contention • Locus of pro-democracy movement in 1980s-90s • Locus of nationalist activism during Iraqi occupation • Political Campaigns

7. Characteristics of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) • Secondary group relations, not primary • Openness and inclusivity (public); civil in their behavior • Legally recognized • Produce dense networks of social relationship based on trust and reciprocity (social capital) • **Tolerant and moderate in their claims; Supportive of democratic reform

8. Networks • What is a network? • A complex set of relationships between individuals and organized groups of individuals • Generates feelings of solidarity • Collective “we” that is often sub-national • Reified by regular associations among individuals • Based on trust and continued associations • Strongest predictor of recruitment into activist organization?  knowing someone already involved

9. Web of Social Affiliations or Social Network Some Types of Ties Professional Family Business Romance

10. Some Types of CSOs (Yom reading) • Membership-based Professional Groups • Ex: Lawyer’s organizations (like Bar Association) • NGOs • Ex: Widows for Peace (micro-credit); Iraq Health Aid Organization (basic nursing skills); require registration • Public Interest Advocates – human rights, watchdogs, thinktanks, etc. • Unions • Ex: Labor Unions exist in most, if not all, Arab states • Regulated by gov’t (public funding; constrains activism) • Informal Social Groups and Networks • Iraqi Youth League in Jordan; Internat’l. Pal. Youth League

11. What is Democracy? • Minimalist (process) definitions • Substantive definitions (& preconditions) • "democracy is not attained simply by making institutional changes or through elite level maneuvering. Its survival depends also on the values and beliefs of ordinary citizens." • Civic Culture (Tessler on attitudes) • Pride and emotional investment in the nation & pol. system • Expectation of fair treatment from government authorities • Relative freedoms of speech and expression about political issues • Tolerance toward groups/parties/orgs you disagree with • Valuing of active participation (in local government, parties, & civic associations) • Self-confidence in one's competence to participate in politics • Civic cooperation and trust • Membership in a voluntary association • Social Capital