Civil society
This topic explains what civil society means, how does it work and how we can valorise it
Opening questions
Please, go through the following questions. Do not worry, they are not going to be assessed, they will only help us and you to reflect on your competences developed during the course. You can later return to them. At the end of the module you will be able to answer them again in closing questions.
What do you think are the functions that the civil society answers in democratic state?
Correct answer: All answers are correct.
Further in the module, we will help you to discover and to clarify why civil society is an important counter weight to a government, how it helps to promote and protect democracy and contributes to social capital.
What is public space in relation to civil society?
Correct answer: The public space is every social space that is generally open and accessible to people
The public space is every social space that is generally open and accessible to people, it is space where the actors of the civil society can gather, but it is not the same. They can also meet in the places of culture, but it is not only place of alternative culture that imply the public space.
How would a state look like without active citizens, civil associations or other organisations?
Correct answer: None of above mentioned is correct
None of above mentioned is correct
What are non-profit organisations?
Correct answer: The civic associations
The “non-profits” are the formally registered organisations, as for example the civic assiociations are.
What can be an example of volunteer work?
Correct answer: Walking a dog from a shelter
Volunteering activity can produce a feeling of self-esteem and respect. There is no financial gain involved for an individual, and it is not considered help to family or relatives, or a self-help.
What can help to the development of the civil society?
Correct answer: Legislation that does not limit the civic activities.
None the increased public spending or the voting for social democrats can guarantee the good civil society. Building of a highway is also a public spending but does not contribute to a civil society development at all.
Who can be considered as part of civil society?
Correct answer: all of us
Civil society are all the people living in the territory of a given state and also citizens of a given state living elsewhere and getting involved.
Legislation directly related to civil society...
Correct answer: … is based on political human rights
Legislation related to civil society is a part of so called first generation of human rights, human rights which solve the relation between the people in power, e.g. king, and the citizens. The other human rights are also related to civil society, however without the right to assembly or the right to freedom speech they could be hardly fully realised and thus they are related in the second run only.
Democracy, citizen´s participation, civil society, public participation are the key terms of this module. Some of us are familiar with them and some might need more detailed explanation on how these words belong to our daily life.