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Civil society in Israel evolved in three phases as a response to state strategies. In the first phase, the state, aided by a fundamental vision and disciplined political parties, adopted a strategy of active inclusion, based on comprehensive mobilization of social actors. In the second phase, the state shifted to active exclusion, delegitimizing challenging groups such as the feminists and social protest movements. The Law of Associations, mandating state surveillance of groups' organization and activities, consolidated active exclusion. In the third phase, the state shifted to passive exclusion, decreasing its interference with civil society. Consequently, six developments on the social scene are discernible: a rise in the number of civic organizations, a change in the nature of civil society, a change in associations' strategies, a change in their access to decision makers, a change in their impact, and their legitimation.

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This article discusses the regulation of interest groups by the state in four democracies: two liberal, namely Australia and Canada, and two nonliberal, namely Israel and Turkey. The analysis centers on five questions: the scope of regulation, its causes, public reaction to regulation, implementation of regulation, and its impact on state and society. The article suggests that the type of regime does make a difference regarding all parameters of regulation. Liberal democracies tend to regulate strategy of interest groups; regulation is caused by fear of undue associational pressure exerted on decision-makers. The public tends to be hostile to regulation; implementation is strict, but impact on both interest groups and society is modest. Nonliberal democracies tend to regulate interest groups' structure. Regulation is caused by fear of subversion and threats to the state's survival. The public is compliant disregarding regulation. Implementation is lax and impact may be potentially substantial. These hypotheses were largely confirmed in the four cases under consideration.