Since the renaissance of civil society in the course of the worldwide transitions in the 1980s, it has inevitably been linked to the concepts of democracy and democratization. Civil society is promoted as agent of change in autocratic or transitional contexts and as a source or warrantor of pluralism, tolerance and altruism in established democracies.
Against this background, civil society organizations (CSOs) became a key element/actor in the field of (external) democracy promotion that since the late 1980s, “has evolved from a specialized niche into a substantial, well-institutionalized domain that affects political developments in almost every corner of the globe” (Carothers 2015: 59). CSOs have fulfilled diverse roles in this context, acting for example as sources of information and advocacy groups, consultants and partners of (international) donors, as local recipients of democracy aid programs, or donor organizations themselves. Current worldwide trends, however, let us reconsider civil society’s powerful / central role as driving force in democratization.
In a context of a worldwide renaissance of authoritarianism, liberal democracy has recently come under pressure. Deterioration in illiberal or hybrid regimes stands vis-à-vis a rise of populism and a “decline of democratic efficacy, energy, and self-confidence in the West” (Diamond 2015: 251). For civil society, this results in what has currently been discussed as “shrinking and closing spaces.” Bureaucratic and legal restrictions, defamation, threat, or intimidation increasingly restrict civil society organizations and activists in their democratic-participatory work and impact. The free articulation and representation of interests, information and education about controversial topics, integrative work and service provision for vulnerable people come under threat.
At the same time, autocratic leaders seem to be eager to incorporate or co-opt CSOs according to their own mind and purposes, creating and nourishing their own loyal branch of CSOs.
Furthermore, a neo-conservative turn in traditional democracies is giving a boost to right-wing, sometimes hardly democratically minded discourses, movements and organizations which offer alignment, meaning and orientation for a growing number of citizens.
The seminar aims at analyzing these developments and their impact on (the future of) external democracy promotion. The first part of the seminar will deal with the key concepts - civil society, democracy promotion, and democratization studies - their evolution and relation. We will also analyze the impetus of neo-conservative voices in media, politics and society, their historical precursors and expressions. In the second part of the seminar we will then turn to the different multilateral, international and national actors of democracy promotion. Studying selected countries and programs we will discuss the current role of civil society in democracy promotion, its challenges, virtues and risks.
Course Work: Requirements for a Studienleistung
1) Participants have to provide a short input (Referat) in one session. The input will be based on the reader assignments posed on LearnWeb.
2) Participants have to either research the situation of civil society in one non-democratic or to analyze the work of a private or party foundation in the international arena
Requirement for a Prüfungsleistung:
- An essay discussing one specific topic related to the course work
Carothers, T. (2002). The End of the Transition Paradigm. Journal of Democracy, 13:1: 5-21.
Cavatorta, F. (2013). Civil Society Activism under Authoritarian Rule. A Comparative Perspective. Oxford: Routledge.
- Lehrende/r: Katharina Obuch
- Lehrende/r: Roman Paul Turczynski
- Lehrende/r: Annette Zimmer