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    Relative Autonomy of State and Civil Society

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    hobbesianstudent
    The document discusses state-society relations in Singapore and the concepts of civic and civil society. It outlines the history of civil society in Singapore, from its initial development to present constraints. Civil society refers to independent organizations that are distinct from the state and mediate state and group interests. While civil society organizations in Singapore partner with the government in governance, they have faced constraints such as the Internal Security Act and Societies Act that limit political activity and require registration.

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    Relative Autonomy of State and Civil Society

    Uploaded by

    hobbesianstudent
    205 views9 pages
    The document discusses state-society relations in Singapore and the concepts of civic and civil society. It outlines the history of civil society in Singapore, from its initial development to present constraints. Civil society refers to independent organizations that are distinct from the state and mediate state and group interests. While civil society organizations in Singapore partner with the government in governance, they have faced constraints such as the Internal Security Act and Societies Act that limit political activity and require registration.

    Original Description:

    Discusses civil society and the state in the context of Singapore.

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    The document discusses state-society relations in Singapore and the concepts of civic and civil society. It outlines the history of civil society in Singapore, from its initial development to present constraints. Civil society refers to independent organizations that are distinct from the state and mediate state and group interests. While civil society organizations in Singapore partner with the government in governance, they have faced constraints such as the Internal Security Act and Societies Act that limit political activity and require registration.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    205 views9 pages

    Relative Autonomy of State and Civil Society

    Uploaded by

    hobbesianstudent
    The document discusses state-society relations in Singapore and the concepts of civic and civil society. It outlines the history of civil society in Singapore, from its initial development to present constraints. Civil society refers to independent organizations that are distinct from the state and mediate state and group interests. While civil society organizations in Singapore partner with the government in governance, they have faced constraints such as the Internal Security Act and Societies Act that limit political activity and require registration.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 9

    The Relative Autonomies of State and Civil Society

    by: Chua Beng Huat

    Outline
    Discusses the dynamics of State-Society relations in Singapore Difference between civil and civic society
    semantics and politics

    Concept of Civil Society History of Civil Society in Singapore


    development of CS constraints to CS

    Civil Society
    Unit of Analysis: Singapore
    1991, PAP Government Political climate
    greater strides to bridge gap between state and the younger electorate
    Shared Values (responsibilities to nation, community and family) Various avenues of participation (Feedback Unit, NonConstituency Member of Parliament...etc.) Civic society vis-a-vis Civil Society

    Civic Society vis-a-vis Civil Society


    Civic Society: emphasis on civic responsibilities Civil Society: implied emphasis on rights of citizenship Sing. Gov't. emphasis on Civic rather than civil society coincides with 5 elements of shared value of Singapore Rights balanced with duty
    4

    Civil Society
    Adam Smith and Adam Ferguson 18th c.
    contrasted to natural condition of human society (Hobbesian state of nature)

    Ernest Gellner
    originally construed as interest in history of ideas Society (as a sphere) is distinct from State (brought about by) commercial class idependent of the state mediated state and individual/group interests

    Civil Society
    Two conceptions of CS
    First conception (de Toqueville)
    check on state power
    competitive political parties independent judiciary free press freedom of association, assembly and petition

    Second Conception (Gramsci, Althusser)


    State =Coercion + Ideology partner on the state in governance
    propagate, reproduce and reinforce ideological hegemony of state Ideological hegemony (Gramsci)- "condition of governance in which a concensus of values, viewpoints and/or worldview holds between governing and governed"
    6

    Civil Society
    Civil Society in Singapore
    Arrangements between Sing. Gov't and CS fit Gramscian concept.
    Partner in governance manage discontent

    Two unequal halves


    State partner independent organizations

    Civil Society
    Constraints
    Internal Security Act
    Min Home Affairs can detain those who are perceived to be threats to social stability

    Societies Act
    Registrar of Societies requires groups of 10 or more persons to register prohibition on political activity; limited to declared constituencies

    Concepts to take note of


    Social Capital (Putnam): networks, norms,
    and trust that enable participants achieve same goals
    Bonding Social Capital: same social circle/class/religion/race Bridging Social Capital: cuts across narrow groupings

    Relative Autonomy (Poulantzas): State is not totally influenced by superstructure

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