Re-conceptualizing Civil Society: The Debate Continues With Specific Reference to Contemporary Senegal

Abstract

This article challenges the civil society argument based on its failure to correctly and appropriately conceptualize Africa's societal experiences. To this end, the article explores Senegal as a case study to show how the idiosyncrasy of societal development has constructed and produced different types of associational life that is not grasped within the liberal preconditions of civil society. Senegal was selected to make a deductive analysis. If we can prove that Senegalese society, which is commonly cited in the liberal argument as a vibrant model of civil society, is neither acting within the conventional frameworks nor meets the conventional preconditions of civil society, the argument on the flaws of the liberal conception of civil society will stand.