Browsing by Author "Camerer, Marianne Irene"
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- ItemCivil society, state and democracy(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1994) Camerer, Marianne Irene; Van der Merwe, W. L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Philosophy.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Recently, the claim that a vibrant, independent and autonomous civil society is vital for sustaining a democratic dispensation in South Africa, has been put forward. This claim has lead to a lively. debate amongst political theorists and activists alike. As a concerned democrat and student of Philosophy, I set out to critically and creatively examine the above claim. The result was this thesis - an attempt to come to an understanding of the concept "civil society", its relationship to the state and most importantly, from a South African perspective, its relationship to democracy. This is, admittedly, a vast topic. However, the numerous questions which immediately arise, act as signposts in how to proceed forward into this conceptual jungle. These questions include the following: What is understood by the concept "civil society?" How has its meaning changed over time? What is the relationship between civil society and the state? What is the connection between civil society and democracy? Why has this concept emerged in recent political theory? What themes dominate the civil society debate in South Africa? Is there such a concept as a civil "civil society?" and most. importantly, llow can, and what sort of civil society serves to promote and sustain a democratic dispensation? To begin with, Chapter One examines the different ways in which the concept 0civil society" has been understood by major thinkers from Aristotle to Gramsci. The importance of examining classical and theoretical debates and conceptualisations of civil society lies in establishing how these inform contemporary civil society agents' understanding. By providing some indication on what "civil society" and by extension, its relationship to the state, has meant for earlier generations, an attempt is made to unravel the "conceptual undergrowth" which clouds the South African debate on civil society. Moving from the past to contemporary thinkers, Chapter Two has as its focus, the way in which civil society, its relationship to the state and to democracy, is understood by certain contemporary democratic theorists. Keane and Held's idea of "double-democratization" which concerns itself with the appropriate institutional arrangements for civil society and the state in a democratic dispensation, is taken seriously. Firstly however, the essential characteristics of civil society are isolated with the following purpose: to establish an evaluative framework against which to judge the South African debate on civil society, focus of the next chapter. Having accomplished the necessary, general theoretical background, Chapter Three addresses the local debate on civil society, its relationship to the state and democracy. By asking specific questions of representative texts in the South African debate, the work of three South African theorists (namely Friedman, Swilling and Nzimande - representing a Liberal, Democratic-Socialist and Marxist view respectively) highlights the ideological differences and complexities of - positions in the local debate. Interactive, as well as general criticisms conclude this chapter. Bearing in mind the current South African situation dominated by violence, the final chapter of this thesis pleads for the notion of a civil "civil society". The importance of political practice and the way in which it impinges on political reality is stressed by looking at various texts which highlight the connection between "civil society" and "civility".