DI Digest January 1998

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January/February 1998	The strengthening of civil society is at the top of the agenda for many governments. Even the World Bank has declared that social capital - the wealth which flows from community associations, voluntary associations, self-help groups and the like - is an essential ingredient of sustainable development. Development agencies and non-governmental organizations concur. Yet, basic rights such as freedom-of-speech and democratic elections remain unreachable for many. Ways are being sought to strengthen social capital and increase the participation of civil society in decision-making. This, however, raises several questions that need to be addressed. Not least is the concern voiced by some developing country NGOs that this is just one more development trend from donor countries which will impose a foreign model and ultimately fail to address real problems of poverty and environmental degradation. Our exploration of the theme of civil society begins with a look at the broad concept of Social Capital in DI #1 - how it's being defined and why it's now being considered essential for sustainable development. DI #2 - Civil Society Organizations - looks at these organizations, what they do and the role they play. Next, in DI #3, we investigate the increasing involvement of civil society organizations, especially NGOs, in government policy decision-making. DI #4 and DI #5 delve further into civil society participation and examine two types of partnerships which are becoming more prevalent - CSO/Business Partnerships and CSO/Government Partnerships. DI #5 specifically follows the historic process which lead up to the land mines ban treaty in December 1997 and the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by The International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Lastly, TrendWatch examines the growing number of policy decision-making fora which now include civil society. organizations. Globalization is bringing many changes including the ability of civil society to communicate and influence decisions at local, national and international levels. As with all growth and change, new challenges and issues are emerging. I hope this issue of Developing Ideas will help clarify some of them. Marlene Roy, Managing Editor Social Capital Civil Society Organizations Participatory Policy-Making CSO/Business Partnerships CSO/Government Partnerships LitScan: Further Readings on Civil Society TrendWatch: Plethora of Fora This Issue in Portable Document Format

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January/February
1998

The strengthening of civil society is at the top of the agenda for many governments. Even the World Bank has declared that social capital - the wealth which flows from community associations, voluntary associations, self-help groups and the like - is an essential ingredient of sustainable development. Development agencies and non-governmental organizations concur. Yet, basic rights such as freedom-of-speech and democratic elections remain unreachable for many. Ways are being sought to strengthen social capital and increase the participation of civil society in decision-making. This, however, raises several questions that need to be addressed. Not least is the concern voiced by some developing country NGOs that this is just one more development trend from donor countries which will impose a foreign model and ultimately fail to address real problems of poverty and environmental degradation.

Our exploration of the theme of civil society begins with a look at the broad concept of Social Capital in DI #1 - how it's being defined and why it's now being considered essential for sustainable development. DI #2 - Civil Society Organizations - looks at these organizations, what they do and the role they play. Next, in DI #3, we investigate the increasing involvement of civil society organizations, especially NGOs, in government policy decision-making. DI #4 and DI #5 delve further into civil society participation and examine two types of partnerships which are becoming more prevalent - CSO/Business Partnerships and CSO/Government Partnerships. DI #5 specifically follows the historic process which lead up to the land mines ban treaty in December 1997 and the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize by The International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Lastly, TrendWatch examines the growing number of policy decision-making fora which now include civil society. organizations. Globalization is bringing many changes including the ability of civil society to communicate and influence decisions at local, national and international levels. As with all growth and change, new challenges and issues are emerging. I hope this issue of Developing Ideas will help clarify some of them.

Marlene Roy, Managing Editor

LitScan: Further Readings on Civil Society
TrendWatch: Plethora of Fora

This Issue in Portable Document Format