Civil Society is a blanket term that tends to refer to all of those organizations dealing with societal progress and problem solving that don’t fall under the banner of government. Alternately known as the ‘third sector’, Civil Society is defined by the London School of Economics in this way:

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 organisations such as registered charities, development non-governmental organisations, community groups, women’s organisations, faith-based organisations, professional associations, trades unions, self-help groups, social movements, business associations, coalitions and advocacy groups.

(from wikipedia.com)

One of the biggest gatherings of international civil society organizations is the now-annual CIVICUS World Assembley. To read about it, visit their webpage.

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!