April 07

Boiling Point : Can Citizen Action Save The World? By Kumi Naidoo

Civil society Protests and resistance Trackbacks (0)

This volume offers the insights and reflections – both critical and self-critical – of a prominent civil society activist who has been engaged in local and global struggles for emancipation for over 30 years. On the basis of his own experiences in many different contexts Kumi Naidoo pleads for the involvement of ordinary people in the work for greater justice in this world. His point of departure is that civil society cannot be strengthened in a vacuum. Its achievements must be the result of actions by real people dealing with real problems. The volume deals with several of today’s most burning issues and also touches on sensitive matters within the global movements engaged in struggles for justice and equality. It does not avoid unpopular views on several issues, and advocates engagement with representatives of various agencies, including controversial ones such as faith-based organisations and the business community. While being guided by a notion of non-violent forms of resistance, the author nonetheless promotes radical alternatives to the existing reproduction of societies as a necessity to meet the challenges in securing the survival of the human species and a decent life for all. His reflections add to the search for sustainable alternatives and the potential contributions that concerned citizen action can offer. This volume thereby also contributes to a better understanding of the potential that a so-called ‘third United Nations’ can offer to global governance issues currently at stake.

   



Introduction

Chapter 1 » Citizen action and the democratic deficit

 

Chapter 2 » Re-defining what change means
and how it occurs

 

Chapter 3 » Accountability

 

Chapter 4 » Citizen organisations and the business community

 

Chapter 5 » Secular and religious civil society dynamics – How do we break the barriers and bridge the divide?

 

Chapter 6 » Poverty

 

Chapter 7 » Climate change – A catalyst for civil society unity?

 

Chapter 8 » The prospects and limitations of civil society in challenging environments

 

Chapter 9 » The challenge of youth citizenship – From the margins to the centre

 

Chapter 10 » The majority are socially excluded!! Marginalised groups and the challenge for civil society

 

Conclusion

http://www.dhf.uu.se/publications/development-dialogue/boiling-point-%C2%BB-can-citizen-action-save-the-world/
January 26

Apartheid, Reparations And The United States Courts

Judiciary and lawyers Civil society Trackbacks (0)

Recently South African Professors John Dugard and Kader Asmal have been in the news for their opinions for and against the Khulumani litigation currently before the US Court of Appeals in New York. That litigation involves claims on behalf of apartheid victims for reparations from corporate defendants; the argument being that the defendants, as companies, traded with the apartheid regime and thereby facilitated the crime against humanity of apartheid...[more]

Written by: Max du Plessis, Senior Research Associate, ICAP, ISS; Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
The writer was one of the professors that joined Professor Asmal in providing an opinion to the US Court of Appeals.

From Institute of Security Studies via Polity.org.za

December 23

Civil Society And The Zuma Administration: Opportunities For Engagement From IDASA

South Africa Civil society Trackbacks (0)
This booklet consist of contributions by Steven Friedman, Raenette Taljaard, Kehla Shubane and Yvette Geyer. It is a collection of the presentations made at the roundtable discussion had at Idasa Kutlwanong in August, funded by the IDRC, to talk through the challenges and opportunities South Africa's civil society faces under the new administration.

Civil Society and the Zuma Administration Opportunities for Engagement.pdf

June 04

Open Government Intiative

United States of America Civil society Government Citizenship Trackbacks (0)
Open Government Intiative
The Open Government intiative was launched in 2009 by President Barack Obama. It seeks to make American government more open, accountable, transparent and participatory. This website (maintained by the White House) contains an Open government blog which highlights programmes, press releases and projects from the American government. It includes case studies of the use of web 2.0 technology to encourage citizen involvement in government. There are also discussion forums where they can vote/ discuss new ideas. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.whitehouse.gov/open/
February 26

Civil Society Handbook On Human Rights

Human Rights Civil society Trackbacks (0)

A new guide for civil society actors - Working with the United Nations Human Rights Programme: A Handbook for Civil Society has been issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The handbook explains how the different United Nations human rights mandates and mechanisms work, and how members of civil society, such as human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions, can engage with them most effectively. Download the handbook in full, (pdf) or by chapters and also get information on how to order a hardcopy from the website.

UN Pulse permalink

December 11

Long Term Impact Of The Slave Trade On Citizens' Trust In Local Instutions And Governments In Africa. Afrobarometer

Africa Slaves and slavery Civil society Government Trackbacks (0)
Transatlantic slave trade and the evolution of mistrust in Africa: an empirical investigation
This site provides free access to the full text of Afrobarometer working paper no.100 by Nathan Nunn and Leonard Wantchekon which was published in June 2008. Afrobarometer publications report the results of public opinion surveys on the attitudes of citizens in selected African countries towards democracy. It is coordinated by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD, Ghana), the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), and the Institute for Empirical Research in Political Economy (IREEP). This 47 page report considers the long term impact of the slave trade on the trust of local instutions and governments by the population. a key question is whether whether individuals belonging to an ethnic group that was heavily impacted by the slave trades in the past are less trusting of political leaders and others today. Intute.ac.uk
http://www.afrobarometer.org/papers/AfropaperNo100.pdf
August 17

Chinese Law And Politics Blog

China Human Rights Civil society Justice Trackbacks (0)
Chinese law and politics blog
This specialist blog is maintained by Carl Minzner, Associate Professor of Law, Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. It regularly discusses issues relating to Chinese law and politics. Topics covered include human rights, civil society and social change in China. There is also coverage of the Chinese legal and judicial system. All postings from 2007 onwards can be viewed via the website. Intute.ac.uk
http://sinolaw.typepad.com/chinese_law_and_politics_/
April 20

Zimbabwe: 2 Sites From Intute.Ac.Uk

NGOs and NPOs Elections The State Zimbabwe Civil society Trackbacks (0)

Inclusion and exclusion: NGOs and politics in Zimbabwe
This site provides free access to a dissertation submitted by Sara Rich Dorman for the degree of D.Phil St Antony's college, University of Oxford in 2001. The 341 page thesis examines the process of political change in Zimbabwe in the post independence era, 1980-2000, looking in particular at State civil-society relations, the emergence of political coalitions, the role of NGOs and church organisations and the progress of democratization in the region. It also considers the government of Robert Mugabe and the June 2000 elections. It is available on the Internet via the edinburgh University Research Archive.
http://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/1842/493/1/thesis+final.pdf

Make sure they count nicely this time: the politics of election observing in Zimbabwe
This site provides access to the full text of a 25 page working paper by Sara Rich Dorman which was written in 2004. The author uses her experiences of research on Zimbabwe between 1994 and 2003, and participation as a member of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Ecumenical Peace Observer Mission during the 2000 Parliamentary elections. Previous drafts of this paper were presented at African Studies Seminars at the University of Oxford in October 2000 and the University of Edinburgh in July 2002, under the title “A Flee and Fear Affair”. The paper examines the conduct of elections in Zimbabwe in 2000 and 2002 considering the controversies surrounding the role of the government of Robert Mugabe. The text is made available on the Internet via the Edinburgh Research Archive.
http://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/491

April 05

The IMF And Civil Society

IMF Civil society Trackbacks (0)
The IMF and Civil Society [pdf, Windows Media Player, Quick Time]

http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/cs/eng/index.htm

Over the past several decades, the number of civil society organizations (such as labor unions, think tanks, and faith-based associations) has grown exponentially. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is intimately interested in such organizations, and would like to engage with such groups "through information sharing, dialogue, and consultation at both global and national levels." Visitors to the homepage are encouraged to look at the "Spotlight" area as a starting point, as it contains briefing documents and news releases on the IMF's recent activities in this area. Moving down the homepage, visitors are also encouraged to look at the "News" section, which contains the latest updates from poverty reduction programs in Haiti and other structured initiatives. The site is rounded out by a "Resources" area which contains a basic factsheet, the archives of the Civil Society Newsletter, and transcripts from various events and symposia. [KMG] Scout Report

March 30

Social Watch [Pdf]

Poverty Civil society Equality and Inequality Trackbacks (0)
http://www.socialwatch.org/en/portada.htm Taken as a whole, Social Watch as an international network of citizens' groups concerned with the "fulfillment of internationally agreed commitments on poverty eradication and equality." These citizens' groups are also responsible for submitting national reports, promoting dialogue about these development priorities, and developing an inclusive strategy in order to bring other groups into the fold. For persons with an interest in these matters, this site will prove quite indispensable. Along the top of their homepage, visitors can view country reports, learn about development indicators through interactive maps, and also read up on the progress towards these goals. Visitors should also take a look at their annual reports, which provide both an executive summary and detailed regional reports on such matters as gender equity and poverty eradication efforts. The site also contains links to other relevant organizations and conferences, including the World Summit for Social Development and the World Conference on Women. [KMG] Scout Report
January 22

The Role Of Civil Society Organisations In Promoting Social Justice And Sound Developmental Policies In SADC

NGOs and NPOs South Africa Zimbabwe Civil society Mozambique Trackbacks (0)

The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Promoting Social Justice and Sound Developmental Policies in SADC: A case study of Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Keith Muloongo, CIVICUS, June 2007
This study aims to (a) examine how civil society actors relate to the government and its policies at national levels; (b) identify key constraints impacting on the role of civil society in policy formulation and monitoring implementation of policies; (c) make recommendations on how to strengthen the role of civil society in working to build social justice and contribute to broad-based participatory development processes.

http://www.afrimap.org/english/images/documents/PGSADCStudyJune2007.pdf
January 21

Designing For Civil Society: David Wilcox On Social Media, Engagement, Collaboration

Civil society Trackbacks (0)

Designing for civil society: David Wilcox on social media, engagement, collaboration

David Wilcox began this weblog in 2003 following a workshop called Designing for Civic Society. Topics reflect the interests he developed while a correspondent for the London Evening Standard in the 1970s and include "housing, transport, property and the social and economic forces changing the capital's communities". From Intute.ac.uk
http://partnerships.typepad.com/civic/