In more detail
Civil society is all the things that exist because of what we do and plan together and not because someone either paid for them, or passed a law to say they should. It includes:
- Families
- Social networks (the patterns of who knows whom)
- Communities
- Community groups
- Voluntary organisations
- Charities and trusts
and the links between them. Other organisations like authorities and businesses contribute to civil society - although they are not part of it. Our social networks, for example, are influenced by the work we do and the services, like schools and places of worship, we may use. Some organisations, like social enterprises, or some large charities – which are part of civil society – also work as businesses or like public sector bodies.
Sometimes it is called the third sector or voluntary sector (as opposed to the private sector and the public sector). In fact, civil society is more accurately the ‘first sector’. Humans co-operated voluntarily to achieve common goals before we ever invented government or business.
Some accounts and descriptions of civil society focus on how it joins up with the public sector. These descriptions tend to over-emphasise the importance of large, organised voluntary organisations and charities run by professional employees. They may refer to ‘the voluntary sector’ rather than civil society. Other accounts and descriptions of civil society focus on the places where it most resembles business. Social enterprises figure largely in these descriptions. The truth is that whilst both of these types of organisation is part of civil society, most of civil society is made up by families; friends; neighbours; people helping each other out; informal volunteering – ‘lending a hand’; giving time and money to people who need it; and a multitude of small – often informal – community groups and the networks between them.
Businesses and public services make a massive difference to the quality of life in the community, but making anywhere a better place to live in the long run depends on local civil society, not what the council says or what businesses can do.
| Key Facts:
Civil society is citizens linked by common interest and collective action: everything which happens in your neighbourhood which isn't the result of a decision by an elected official or because of a market price. It is the 'first sector' not the the 'third sector' because it pre-dates authorities and markets. Public services and private enterprise create opportunities, but civil society makes up the bedrock of wealth and wellbeing in almost any neighbourhood. |
Page Links from here
Civil Society is a useful website with news, events and information relating to the 'third sector'
What is Civil Society was a BBC World Service radio series first broadcast in 2001 - notes and a link to listen to the programme are available on the BBC website
In this toolkit see:
OR you can use the navigation menu above right to look at other parts of the toolkit.
BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY PLANNING TOOLKIT DEFINITION SHEET This sheet may be reproduced in paper or electromic or any other form but please mention it was made by Chamberlain Forum Limited for Birmingham City Council supported by Department for Communities and Local Government.
| created: 2016-07-21 05:31:57 | by: admin | status: f published |