Civil Society

"Is civil society the big idea for the 21st century? Or will the idea of civil society - confused, conflated and co-opted by elites - prove another false horizon in the search for a better world? By illuminating the uses and abuses of different theories and traditions in clear and engaging prose, this book will help readers of all persuasions to answer the question for themselves". "A challenging interprtation of the theoretical and practical significance of civil society as a concept and as a basis for action and hope about the future". Contents: Introduction: Whats the big idea? Civil Society as associational life Civil Society as the good society Civil Society as the public sphere Synthesis - Unravelling the civil society puzzle Conclusion - so whats to be done?