Rethinking Civil Society in Transition International Donors, Associations and Politics in Tunisia
This book illustrates the results of ethnographical research designed to shed light on the notion of civil society in a context characterized by the transformation of power relations. Such transformation is given by shifting resources, renewed local and international opportunities, and a general ref...
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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Amsterdam
Amsterdam University Press
2023, 2023
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| Series: | Protest and Social Movements
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| Collection: | JSTOR Open Access Books - Collection details see MPG.ReNa |
| Summary: | This book illustrates the results of ethnographical research designed to shed light on the notion of civil society in a context characterized by the transformation of power relations. Such transformation is given by shifting resources, renewed local and international opportunities, and a general reframing of goals and objectives. The academic literature has usually relied on a substantialist understanding of the notion of civil society - referring to the latter as something that exists a priori or does something. This volume relies, instead, on a relational approach - where civil society becomes the name we give to a host of complex interactions in which local associations are involved in a time of reconfiguration of power relations. Building on this approach, this volume analyses the relational dynamics affecting Tunisian associations after the fall of the authoritarian regime in 2011 and their implications for the changing political order. Findings show two main interrelated trends: the nationwide professionalization of local associations and the localized networking strategies of various socio-political categories crossing the associational sector. The book shows how their members understand the standardization of local associations as a strategy to have guaranteed access to the public sphere and, therefore, to influence the changing political order |
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| Item Description: | "Amsterdam University Press". - List of abbreviations List of illustrations Preface Introduction: leveling the playing field 1. Unpacking the Notion of Civil Society 2. Studying Civil Society in Transition Through a (Strategic) Relational Approach 3. Mobilizing for Development in Post-authoritarian Tunisia 4. Research Design and Methods: The Challenges of Grounded Theory 5. Structure of the Book PART I CIVIL SOCIETY IN TRANSITION: RECASTING THE ARENA OF POWER RELATIONS Chapter 1: State-society relations before and after the Revolution Chapter 2: Civil society and politics after 2011 Chapter 3: From the global to the local: the tale of civil society promotion PART II: ASSOCIATIONS AS PLAYERS AND ARENAS Chapter 4: Associations as players Chapter 5: Civil society as an arena: networking strategies beyond hegemonic actors Conclusion: On associations' permeability: doing politics through other means? Postfaction Appendix References |
| Physical Description: | 222 pages illustrations |