Book chapter
Forskning om relationen mellan det civila och offentliga samhället
2010Lundberg, E.I Hellberg, A-S. m.fl. (red.), Perspektiv på offentlig verksamhet i utveckling. Örebro: Örebro universitet
What is this study about?
The chapter provides an overview of research on the relationship between civil society and the public sphere. It deals with how this relationship has been understood within different research traditions and how it has changed over time. Particular attention is directed towards the independence of civil society organisations, their participation in political decision-making processes and their cooperation with the state and the public sector.
What did we find?
Research shows that the relationship between civil society and the public sector is characterised by both cooperation and tensions. Civil society organisations can function as independent voices and represent citizens' interests, while at the same time cooperating closely with public actors and, in some cases, being dependent on public resources. The development from popular movements and corporatist arrangements towards new forms of cooperation and organisation therefore does not mean that the relationship between state and civil society becomes less important, but that it changes in character.
Why does it matter?
The relationship with the state is a fundamental question for understanding civil society's role in democracy. Close cooperation can provide organisations with resources, influence and opportunities to contribute to societal development, but can at the same time raise questions about independence, representation and dependence. The chapter therefore shows why civil society should be understood neither as completely independent of the state nor as part of the public sector. It is the interplay – and the tensions – between these spheres that is central to understanding civil society's democratic significance.
Citation
Lundberg, E. (2010) Forskning om relationen mellan det civila och offentliga samhället. I Hellberg, A-S. m.fl. (red.), Perspektiv på offentlig verksamhet i utveckling. Örebro: Örebro universitet 71–82
Research area
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