Sample Material of Our IAS Mains GS Online Coaching Programme
Subject: General Studies (Paper 4 - Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude)
Topic: Probity In Governance (Part-3)
PROBITY IN GOVERNANCE (Part-3)
ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY
The term ‘civil society’ has come to enjoy much political, administrative, and intellectual currency in recent years. However, it has a fairly long history. Traditionally, the two terms ‘State’ and ‘civil society’ were used inter-changeably and treated synonymously. This trend continued till the eighteenth century.
G. W.F. Hegel was the first political philosopher who separated and differentiated civil society from State. He was followed by Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century, Antonio Gramsci analysed the concept of civil society.
Features
Features of the civil society are:
1. It refers to non-state institutions.
2. It covers a large space in society.
3. It refers to the organised society.
4. It covers groups which are intermediate between the state (political society)
and the family (natural society).
5. It, though automonous, is subject to the authority of state.
6. It implies the existence of freedom of association, freedom of thought and
other civil and economic rights.
7. It is in pursuit of common public good.
8. It opposses authoritarianism and totalitarianism.
9. It promotes citizenship by educating the individual.
10. It facilitates citizens’ participation in the politico-administrative
affairs.
11. It formulates public opinion and sets the demands which are general in
nature.
12. Its important attribute is voluntarism, not coercion.
13. It advocates pluralism to reduce the domination of the state.
14. It serves as a moral referent in the community value system.