Civil Society and Democratic Theory: Alternative Voices (Routledge Innovations in Political Theory)

This book addresses the debates around civil society, using democratic theory and case studies drawn from Eastern Europe and Latin America. It moves beyond the solely theoretical to examine the relationship between the idea of civil society as democratic theory and democratic practice. This Book Explores These Pressing And Topical Questions By Introducing Radically Alternative Models Of Civil Society That Have Been Developed Outside The Liberal Democratic Frame Of Reference, Models Which Suggest That Civil Society Does Offer New And Non-statist Democratic Possibilities. Drawing On A Wide Range Of Civil Society Theory-practice From Anti-authoritarian Struggles In Eastern Europe And Latin America (including The Zapatistas In Mexico), And From Visions Of Global Society Too, This Book Is Uniquely Positioned To Consider The Questions Posed By These Alternative Voices For Democratic Theory And Practice.--jacket. Pt. I. The Parallel Polis: Central-east European Models Of Civil Society. 1. 'the Self-limiting Revolution': Polish Voices. 2. 'the Independent Life Of Society': Czechoslovakian And Hungarian Voices -- Pt. Ii. Democracy At The Grass Roots: Latin American Models Of Civil Society. 3. 'we Need To Build Civil Society Because We Want Freedom': The Latin American Left's Discovery Of Civil Society. 4. The Idea Of Civil Society In The Theory-practice Of Latin American New Social Movements -- Pt. Iii. The Taming Of The Idea Of Civil Society Since 1989. 5. Civil Society And Theories Of Democratisation In Eastern Europe. 6. Civil Society And Theories Of Democratisation In Latin America -- Pt. Iv. New Alternatives? 7. Models Of Global Civil Society. Gideon Baker. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 Part I The parallel polis......Page 22 1 ‘The self-limiting revolution’......Page 24 2 ‘The independent life of society’......Page 44 Part II Democracy at the grass roots......Page 62 3 ‘We need to build civil society because we want freedom’......Page 64 4 The idea of civil society in the theory–practice of Latin American new social movements......Page 83 Part III The taming of the idea of civil society since 1989......Page 98 5 Civil society and theories of democratisation in Eastern Europe......Page 100 6 Civil society and theories of democratisation in Latin America1......Page 112 Part IV New alternatives?......Page 124 7 Models of global civil society......Page 126 8 ‘An echo that turns itself into many voices’......Page 141 Part V The democracy of civil society......Page 156 9 Theorising the democracy of civil society......Page 158 Conclusion......Page 179 Notes......Page 183 Bibliography......Page 188 Index......Page 199 This Book Introduces Radically Alternative Models Of Civil Society That Have Been Developed Outside The Liberal Democratic Frame Of Reference, Models Which Suggest That Civil Society Does Offer New And Non-statist Democratic Possibilities. Drawing On A Wide Range Of Civil Society Theory-practice From Eastern Europe And Latin America (including The Zapatistas In Mexico), And From Visions Of Global Civil Society Too, This Book Is Uniquely Positioned To Consider The Questions Posed By These Alternative Voices For Democratic Theory And Practice. * Are There Alternatives To The Liberal Democratic Vision Of Civil Society? * Is A Democracy Located In Civil Society Rather Than The State Either Possible Or Desirable? * How And Why Has The Concept Of Civil Society Come To Be Used So Widely Today? * Can Global Civil Society Further The Struggle For Democracy Initiated By National Civil Societies? Despite its Western European pedigree, we must look outside West European thought to account for the re-emergence of the idea of civil society in recent years.