Define civil society and identify some of its achievements in the 20th and 21st centuries - Essay Example

The recreational clubs function for the aesthetic aspects of the society. There is no universally accepted definition for civil society. Civil society can be defined in many ways based on the activities of the society. “All observers agree that civil society refers to voluntary participation by average citizens and thus does not include behavior imposed or even coerced by the state.” (Hauss, 2003) “Civil society refers to the arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values.

In theory, its institutional forms are distinct from those of the state, family and market, though in practice, the boundaries between state, civil society, family and market are often complex, blurred and negotiated. Civil society commonly embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms, varying in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. Civil societies are often populated by organizations such as registered charities, development non-governmental organizations, community groups, womens organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, trades In a civil society everything is for the social development rather than individual development.

Selfish mottos will never prevail in a civil society. The government and the social organizations are function for the growth of the society. Democratic approaches are the hall mark of a civilized society. “Civil society” means “fundamentally reducing the role of politics in society by expanding free markets and individual liberty” (Edwards 2005) As per the modern concepts, civil society consists of formal and informal groups and organizations which functions independently for the well being of the society.

Such groups or organizations will never be influenced by any other controls or they will not have any bias towards any segment of the community. Society will be consisting of different religions and communities having different