In search of global civil society: A critical exploration

grantor: University of TorontoThis study explores and critically examines the global civil society construct. In this period of economic globalization, there is tremendous optimism that non-state actors, such as transnational social movements, can take a leading role in representing the world's poor and marginalized to challenge the existing structures of oppression and exploitation. This study explores the diverse and contending meanings of global civil society, and argues against any attempts to advance a simplistic, uncritical adoption of the term. In contrast this study contends that the global civil society construct is fraught with ambiguity, contradictions, biases, gaps and euro-centric assumptions. Hence, although there is a need to make sense of the changing landscape of international politics, this study reveals that global civil society is a more problematic, than useful construct to employ, in order to explain and explore the processes of international activism and resistance to globalization.M.A