Real Civil Societies Dilemmas of Institutionalization [Paperback]

In recent social and political theory the term `civil society' has achieved renewed currency. Traditionally used in a normative or `ideal-type' sense, the term describes a form of social organization - that is simply neither economic nor political - where democracy, liberty and widespread solidarity are essential regulatory concepts.

Written from an empirical social-science perspective by some of the world's most important social theorists, this volume is a critical examination of the normative sense of `civil society'. It includes analyses of civil society and democracy, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and post-communism.In recent social and political theory the term `civil society' has achieved renewed currency. Traditionally used in a normative or `ideal-type' sense, the term describes a form of social organization - that is simply neither economic nor political - where democracy, liberty and widespread solidarity are essential regulatory concepts.

Written from an empirical social-science perspective by some of the world's most important social theorists, this volume is a critical examination of the normative sense of `civil society'. It includes analyses of civil society and democracy, citizenship, race and ethnicity, and post-communism.Introduction - Jeffrey C Alexander
Civil Society I, II, III: Constructing an Empirical Concept from Normative Controversies and Historical Transformations
PART ONE: UNCIVIL HIERARCHIES
Banfield's Amoral Familism Revisited - Elisa P Reis
Implications of High Inequality Structures for Civil Society
Between Economic Dissolution and the Return of the Social - Michael Pusey
The Contest for Civil Society in Australia
Civil Society, Patronage, and Democracy - Luis Roniger
Civil Society and Uncivil Organizations - G[um]oran Ahrne
PART TWO: BIFURCATING DIlÃ*