December 2012

A few years ago, there was a debate on whether a global civil society existed or not. Today, few people doubt the existence of a global political space, and research on “global civil society” has emerged as a sub-field of study in the broader context of globalization theory and research. The democracy reforms of the last decades and the heightened focus on human rights have strengthened the political agency of civil movements and organizations, which often have turned into driving critics of precisely the lack of democracy in governance. Many are the hopes that this vitalization of civil society will strengthen societal development in a democratic direction, with increased popular participation. This volume is based on the conference Global Civil Society: Shifting Powers in a Shifting World, held in Uppsala, Sweden, April 12-13, 2011. The two-day conference attracted about one hundred participants from all continents – researchers, development practitioners, policy makers, activists, and students – who gave rich and comparative perspectives on the conference theme in presentations and discussions.