The Cement of Civil Society Studying Networks in Localities [Hardcover]

This book analyzes civil society as a field of organizations mobilizing on collective goals.This book analyzes civil society as a field of organizations mobilizing on collective goals. Drawing upon field work on citizens' organizations in two British cities, this book combines network analysis and social movement theories to show how to represent civil society as a system of relations between multiple actors.This book analyzes civil society as a field of organizations mobilizing on collective goals. Drawing upon field work on citizens' organizations in two British cities, this book combines network analysis and social movement theories to show how to represent civil society as a system of relations between multiple actors.Civil society is frequently conceived as a field of multiple organizations, committed to highly diverse causes and interests. When studied empirically, however, its properties are often reduced to the sum of the traits and attitudes of the individuals or groups that are populating it. This book shows how to move from an aggregative to a relational view of civil society. Drawing upon field work on citizens' organizations in two British cities, this book combines network analysis and social movement theories to show how to represent civil society as a system of relations between multiple actors. Modes of coordination enables us to identify different logics of collective action within the same local settings. The book exposes the weakness of rigid dichotomies, separating the voluntary sector from social movements, civic activism oriented to service delivery from un-civic protest, grassroots activism external to institutions from formal, professionalized organizations integrated within the system.Introduction: of King Solomon, Goethe, and civic networks; 1. Modes of coordination of collective action; 2. The importance of local comparisons: civic organizations in British cities; 3. Building civic networks: strategies of tie formation; 4. The slÃ/