Lesson 11: CIVIL ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Civil Society Organizations and Social
Movement

Objectives
At the end if this lesson, the student should be able to:
1. Define civil society and social movements;
2. Discuss the concepts of civil society organizations and
social movements;
3. Explain the contributions of civil society organizations and
social movements to Philippines democracy; and
4. Discuss the role of civil society organizations and social
movements.

Civil Society is the aggregate of nongovernmental
organizations and institutions that manifest interest and will
of citizens.
are basically non-government members of the society that
promote the interest of the public.
Known to champion issues of the marginalized members of
the society, such as issues on human rights, labor rights,
environmental protection and poverty.

 citizen participation in political processes
arena of uncovered collective action around shared interests,
purposes and values. In theory, its institutional forms are distinct
from those of the state, family and market. Civil society commonly
embraces a diversity of spaces, actors and institutional forms, varying
in their degree of formality, autonomy and power. (LSE,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_society )

Interest Groups: Conceptual Traditions

 Traditional view: politics = formal structures of government
 Alternative perspective: interest group approach politics =
government + citizen groups & their actions = interaction of social
groups
 Theoretical proponents:
Bentley: group is the basic unit of all political life
Latham: organized groups are structures of power; politics is the
struggle of groups
Truman: uniformities of behavior through these groups

 any group that, on the basis of one or more shared attitudes, makes
certain claim upon other groups in society for the establishment,
maintenance, or enhancement of forms of behavior that are implied
by the shared attitudes
 organized organizations that engage in activity relative to
governmental decisions
 organizations that attempt to influence public policy

Interest Groups: Characteristics

formal structure of organization
articulation & aggregation of interests
acting within the political system
influencing external power
representation of political interests
Lobbying e.g. building public pressure using media organizing rallies
& demonstrations forming alliances & coalitions

Non-governmental organizations(NGOs)

Non-Governmental Aid Organization (NGO's) provide assistance to
people for a little or no fee. NGO's fall into the category of civil society
because they are not operated by the government.
non-membership organization formed for providing welfare and
development services to the poor
private, non-profit, legal, small, focused usually works with
peoples’ organizations (Pos)

NGOs : Emergence
fill a gap in the function of the government
stimulating agent for community development
creates opportunities for the politically marginalized to become
active participants in the socio-political processes of society

NGOs Role
playing as an intermediary mechanism between those who have power
& those who have none:
1. plays as an alternative institutional setting to political parties,
articulating & aggregating socially relevant interests
2. supplements government’s social delivery mechanisms
3. privatizes policy implementation

Typology of Philippine NGOs
1. DJANGOs (Development, Justice and Advocacy NGOs)
- commonly called development NGOs
- perform direct and indirect support service functions with Pos
2. FUNDANGOs (Funding agency NGOs or Philanthropic Foundations
- grant-giving organizations linked to grassroots organizations through providing
financial and other forms of support
3. MUNGOs (Mutant NGOs)
- largely composed of government-run NGOs that are essentially extensions of the
state or personal interests of state actors
4. COME N’GOs (Fly-by-Night or paper NGOs)
- fly-by-night organizations that package proposals to attract outside funding and
promptly disappear with the funds.

Historical Contextualization of Philippine Civil Society
a. Intensifying Unrest, Alarming Protest: The Rise of Militancy
• 1960s: political and economic exploitation by the ruling elite
• rapid mobilization of revolutionary mass organizations
• emergence of a movement for grassroots development
b. Repression, Co-optation: The Way to Innovation & Expansion
• declaration of martial law in 1972
• Marcos dictatorship (failure to address problems of development)

c. Assassination, Revolution: Towards Participation & Democratization
• Ninoy Aquino assassination (1983) - “2nd wave of activism”
• “People Power Revolution” (1986)
• 1987 Constitution: encourages formation; support for regional NGOs; respect of
their role; right to participate in decision making; consultation mechanisms
• 1991 Local Government Code: NGOs as representatives of peoples’ interests
d. Democratization Movements
• EDSA Dos – 2001
• EDSA Tres
• Anti-Charter Change

5 Civil Society in the Philippine Politics

5 areas for NGO participation in electoral processes
1. advocacy for electoral reforms
2. the raising of political consciousness
3. advancement of the people’s platform or agenda in elections
4. direct participation through the fielding of and campaigning for
chosen candidates
5. post-election activities

Civil Society Organizations therefore….
• play an essential role in democratizing politics and governance
facilitate participation of the people in the policy-making and
execution process of government
• “key participant political force”
• role in enhancing democracy
• important institutional vehicles ability to influence

 As organizers: forming community & popular grassroots organization
 As advocates: mobilizing, articulating people’s interests, political
demands, and institutional reforms
 As mediators: linking the powerful and disempowered strata of the
society
 As deliverers: alternative mechanism for delivery of social services

Civil Society as an instrument for securing rights and interest
at the people:
-Civil Society works for discharging several economic,
social, cultural, moral and other responsibilities which fall in
the domain of private activities.
Growing Strength as Role of Civil Society in our country:
- In our country the civil society has been becoming
more and more aware, alert, and
Need of Civil Society in undemocratic states:
- Civil Society needed in an authoritarian system
because of overthrow of authoritarian regime and replace it
with a democratic system.

WHAT IS SOCIAL MOVEMENT?
Social Movements are large informal groupings of
individuals or organizations which focus on specific political
or social issues.

Cultural Anthropologist David F. Aberle identified four kinds
of Social Movements.
- Alternative Social Movement
- Redemptive Social Movement
- Reformative Social Movement
- Revolutionary Social Movement

Alternative Social Movement- are at the individual level and
advocate for minor change.
Redemptive Social Movement- are at the individual level
and advocate radical changes.
Reformative Social Movement- occur at a broader group or
societal level and advocate for minor changes.
Revolutionary Social Movement- occur at a broader group
or societal level and advocate for radical change.

Lesson 11: CIVIL ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

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Lesson 11: CIVIL ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS