Making Sense of Global Civil Society

Abstract

This article purports to explain why the concept of global civil society recently has attracted so much interest within academic and political discourse. Given the ambiguity and apparent incoherence of this concept, its centrality within contemporary International Relations and political theory is puzzling. The article argues that once we pay attention to the function of the concept of domestic civil society within different historical contexts, we are better able to understand the logic governing the usage of global civil society as well. Much like its domestic antecedents, theories of global civil society provide answers to the question of how to govern effectively, in this case by constituting the global realm as a sphere of governmental activity, as well as by justifying the exercise of authority within this emergent sphere. The article concludes by discussing the ethical implications of the concept of global civil society, disputing its emancipatory potential.

Essay: Rethinking Global Civil Society and the Public Sphere in the Age of Pro-democracy Movements

“…Nonetheless, criticisms that question the role, the desire for, and even the possibility of the existence of, global civil society -essentially those which stress the problems of having no global political "state" to accompany global civil society (Brown, 2000;Goodhart, 2005;Bartelson, 2006) -are more problematic. These criticisms, which question the central argument of those who have theorised civil society, are based on a limited understanding of the civil society theory.…”

“…However, the global civil society concept has been attended by a number of fundamental criticisms by sceptical theorists who believe that conceptualising this space of participation and discussion (now global in nature) is even more diffuse, undefined and incomprehensible than the already disputed "national" polysemous and confusing version of civil society (Bartelson, 2006). We now turn to review these criticisms.…”

“…On the other hand, some considerations look closely at the problems that come with global civil society when there is no global governing system. For this, we look to the works of writers such as Brown (2000), Goodhart (2005), Bartelson (2006).…”

Paradoxes and challenges of transitional justice at the ‘local’ level: historical enquiries in Northern Ireland

“…1 -19). 'Global civil society' is however a hotly contested concept; commentators have noted a less progressive and 'constraining side' and question its emancipatory potential (Bartelson, 2006). Simultaneously, transitional justice has been enthusiastically adopted by policy makers and it is now part of the standard 'package' of 'liberal' peace-building measures and United Nations peace-building programmes (Lundy & McGovern, 2008a).…”

International relations in China and Europe: the case for interregional dialogue in a hegemonic discipline

“…Nevertheless, even articles that do not self-identify as social constructivist, reflectivist or deconstructivist tend to be informed by (European) social theory (e.g. ontological security inspired by the work of Anthony Giddens (Mitzen 2006); or a governmentality reading drawing upon the work of Foucault(ians) (Bartelson 2006)). In the comparison to CJIP, it is notable that more rational choice is the exception rather than the rule in EJIR.…”