What is Civil Society?

Civil society may be defined as the sphere of voluntary organizations and activities in which citizens choose to participate. Civil society, then, can be thought of as a sphere distinct from the public realm of government and business, and from the private sphere of home and family. Civil society is vitally important, for it links individuals to a broader public culture, and a modern society without a vibrant, healthy civil society would be culturally, intellectually, and politically impoverished.

Civil society includes an enormous array of activities. Many organizations, local and national, contribute to civil society: clubs and organizations of all sorts, ranging from the Daughters of the American Revolution (picture) to Greenpeace. Some aspects of civil society have political purposes, such as advocating particular policies or laws. Some are business organizations, such as the local Chamber of Commerce. Others are social clubs, such as the Elks, Kiwanis, or Rotary. Others are charitable organizations, such as the United Way, Goodwill, or a local food bank. Some are simply organizations of individuals who share a hobby or interest, for instance, a book club or a softball league. Civil society also includes the various arenas in which Americans are able to discuss issues and events that affect their society. So civil society is both the organizations in which Americans participate, as well as the less tangible sociability that results from their participation in their broader society.