| Summary: | More than a decade after the concept for the first edition of the International Encyclopedia of Civil Society emerged, civil society remains as contested and strategically located a concept as it was then, and, therefore, a very fruitful and intellectually lively field of research that has prompted examination of a variety of new aspects. Moreover, civil society and the people and organizations involved in it have been affected over the past decade by numerous political, economic, and social changes and events that have left their mark in new relationships, new approaches, and new actors. These developments necessitate updating of the substantive regional entries on civil society and social capital and on philanthropy. Furthermore, these developments have likely affected legal and regulatory frameworks affecting civil society and various types of organizations and approaches. Additionally, research undertaken and published since the first edition has extended and deepened our understanding of many topics, from more general concerns such as definitions and theories of civil society to more specific issues such as those relating to organizational management
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