Civil Society and Philanthropy in Africa: Parallels, Paradoxes and Promise

Abstract

Civil society and philanthropy in Africa are regularly theorized in formal terms and oft perceived as inherently democratizing forces. Yet, existing evidence exposes the limitations of these assumptions. This article provides an introduction to the symposium issue on civil society and philanthropy in Africa. The objective of the introduction, and the articles contained in the symposium, is to examine important questions related to civil society and philanthropy on the continent: What is the complex history and role of civil society and philanthropy in Africa? How have donor dependence and professionalization affected the effectiveness of the third sector? What are the contours of the relationship between the state and civil society? We ask these crucial questions in an attempt to provide a more nuanced and contextualized understanding of civil society and philanthropy on the continent.

A Research Agenda for Civil Society

“…At the base, so to speak, is to explore what African 'rootedness' really means. That is to test the proposition -advanced in this chapter and recently by Obadare and Krawcyzk (2022) -that there is validity to an ontological story of the affinity between ethnicity, kinship, primary associational life and civil society as a political player in citizens' identity and their joint agency towards the state.…”

“…One point of this research is to remove existing knowledge asymmetries and biases in how civil society is understood and portrayed on the continent. It is also a reminder that there is no uniform understanding of civil society, constituents, and their form and function on the continent (Obadare & Krawcyzk, 2022).…”

Civil society organizations and the prevention of mass atrocities: Perspectives from south Sudan

“…To what extent do CSOs undermine the state by providing public goods and services? These questions capture the continued debates about the roles of service‐providing development CSOs (e.g., Banks, 2021; Batley, 2006; Brass, forthcoming; Boulding, 2010; Boulding & Gibson, 2009; King, 2014; Obiyan, 2005; Obadare & Krawczyk, 2022; Nelson‐Nuñez, 2019; Watkins et al., 2012). Discussed and relevant in public administration and development fields are the dual functions expected from CSOs: the service delivery function (filling gaps in the provision of services left unmet) and the civil society function (working for and achieving transformative outcomes that produce social change).…”

“…Understanding the nuance within the CSO landscape and how atrocity prevention interacts with other global trends like the documented shrinking space and the expansion of counterterrorism and securitization measures is important to continued theorizing about the roles of CSOs. Using an atrocity prevention perspective can build on the rich research about CSOs in Africa (and beyond) and can in particular add to the debates on democratization and development in the context of these broader global trends (e.g., Njoku, 2022; Obadare & Krawczyk, 2022).…”

“…Understanding the nuance within the CSO landscape and how atrocity prevention interacts with other global trends like the documented shrinking space and the expansion of counterterrorism and securitization measures is important to continued theorizing about the roles of CSOs. Using an atrocity prevention perspective can build on the rich research about CSOs in Africa (and beyond) and can in particular add to the debates on democratization and development in the context of these broader global trends (e.g.,Njoku, 2022;Obadare & Krawczyk, 2022).We were able to explore our research question about the extent to which the prevention of mass atrocities is articulated by service-providing, development CSOs in South Sudan. While descriptive in nature, the article intends to begin a conversation and promote continued consideration about atrocity prevention in the work of CSOs and democratization.…”