Suchergebnisse

Civil society is analysed from an organizational perspective. Many ideas about the quality of interaction in civil society are similar to ideas about how to create excellent organizations. Although there is no clear definition of civil society, it is first of all understood in contrast to the state. Organizational forms mentioned in connexion with civil society, such as voluntary associations, new social movements and networks, are analysed. None, however, has proved to be without restrictions inherent in all organizations. The quality of civil society cannot exceed the quality of its organizational forms. I conclude that the structures of civil society are not persistent. Civil society exists through the coincidence of several processes in the interaction between people and organizations, and the notion of civil society is not more incompatible with the state than with other organizational arrangements. On the other hand, there are no organizational forms to assure a permanent establishment of civil society.

Examines the relationship between the establishment of peace zones & the growth of a civil society. Peace zones are described as community initiatives that provide safety & security; they reflect the people's will & are often more effective than efforts by national elites. How peace zones are constructed & run is described & illustrated with the 1994 formation of a Neighborhood Watch in the Liberian capital of Monrovia. Drawing on Christopher Moore's dispute resolution model (1986), the ultimate goal of a peace zone is described as resolving conflicts & meeting the structural, substantive, procedural, & psychological needs of the community. The presence of peace zones in the US, eg, in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence, is described & compared to those in nations engaged in civil war, & distinction is made between security zones, eg, gated communities, & peace zones. Collaborative, autonomous action at the local level is seen as key to democracy & civil society; by studying how they nurture civil society, scholars can become more proactive & productive. T. Arnold