Abstract
Despite civil society’s ambiguity, many scholars tend to focus on the economic reasons for the apparent conflict between state
and civil society, with little or no attention to the conceptual differences that may be influencing the behavior of public
and civil society actors. Using Ghana under J. J. Rawlings as a backdrop, this article argues that state–civil society relations
are partly shaped by the divergent conceptualizations of “civil society” held by state and civil society actors. It suggests
that the issue is not just the African state’s limited understanding of the multiple roles that civil society organizations
can legitimately play in the polity; it is also civil society’s lack of recognition and acknowledgment of the legitimate functions
of the African state.
and civil society, with little or no attention to the conceptual differences that may be influencing the behavior of public
and civil society actors. Using Ghana under J. J. Rawlings as a backdrop, this article argues that state–civil society relations
are partly shaped by the divergent conceptualizations of “civil society” held by state and civil society actors. It suggests
that the issue is not just the African state’s limited understanding of the multiple roles that civil society organizations
can legitimately play in the polity; it is also civil society’s lack of recognition and acknowledgment of the legitimate functions
of the African state.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-20
- DOI 10.1007/s11266-011-9242-0
- Authors
- Christiana Atibil, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Journal Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations
- Online ISSN 1573-7888
- Print ISSN 0957-8765