From protest to participation: The role of civil society in global governance

• Main Author: FLORINI, Ann
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2003
• Subjects: Political Science; Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2343
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Tanks in the streets of Seattle. Molotov cocktalis in Prague. Gunfire in Genoa. Such have been the headlines of recent years. Every time world leaders gather, a motley array of demonstrators rings their meetings in protest. But the news stories have rarely addressed the most important questions: Protest against what? What do the protestors want? Who are they? Can and should they be accommodated? If so, how?This paper addresses those questions. First, it defines the concept of civil societies, that amorphous realm of human associations that fills the space between families and state, of which the protestors are a part. Then it focuses on the advocacy organizations that are the part of civil society most relevant to global governance, exploring who they are, why they have become so prominent, and why they are so concerned about globalization. Third, it examines what should be done - what demands are being made and how those demands should be addressed. The paper ends by exploring the broad question of global governance and civil society's role therein.