SSRN Home Search and Download Papers Browse Abstract and Paper Submission Subscribe to Networks View Briefcase Top Papers Top Authors Top Institutions

 

Abstract

 
 

References (51)

Beta

 


 


Download | Share | Email | Add to Briefcase | Buy Hard Copy

Uncivil Societies - a Theory of Sociopolitical Change

Celestin Monga
World Bank - Research Department



World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 4942

Abstract:     
In times of crises, it is always useful to revisit some of the paradigms that underlie collective thinking and action. For nearly 200 years, most social science has relied on the assumption that the emergence of strong and nurturing social capital through a vibrant civil society yields all kind of positive externalities to society. Following intuition and anecdotal observations from Alexis de Tocqueville, a large body of theoretical and empirical research has attempted to confirm that societies strive politically and economically when they are able to build strong non-state actors and community organizations. Many disciplines-mainly political science, economics, law, and international relations-have constructed influential analytical frameworks in support of that general proposition. This paper examines the philosophical foundations of conventional wisdom and observes that it often fails to take into account the dark side of some civil society groups, from the mafia to Al Qaeda. While acknowledging the potential contribution of civil society to the development process, the paper also cautions again the rush to circumvent the state, which sometimes sustains community-based initiatives in poor countries. It suggests the possibility of the production of negative social capital by non-state actors.

Keywords: Parliamentary Government, Civil Society, Social Inclusion & Institutions, Corporate Law, Government Diagnostic Capacity Building

Date posted: May 26, 2009 ; Last revised: June 05, 2009

Suggested Citation

Monga, Celestin, Uncivil Societies - a Theory of Sociopolitical Change (May 1, 2009). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, Vol. , pp. -, 2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1407960


Export to: Export Citation What's this?

Contact Information

Célestin Monga (Contact Author)
World Bank - Research Department ( email )
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States
Feedback to SSRN (Beta)


Paper statistics
Abstract Views: 141
Downloads: 61
Download Rank: 107,753
References: 51

© 2009 Social Science Electronic Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use  Privacy Policy
This page was served by apollo2 in 0.125 seconds.