Joining the threads of civil society

The term "civil society" means different things to different people. It can be generally defined as a body of voluntary citizens' groups which aim to protect or extend their interests and values vis--vis the market or state.

In the West, we commonly describe such groups for what they are not - non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In China academics are more inclined to see these vanguards of organized society for what they are - civil society organizations (CSOs).

The role that civil society plays in the public affairs of the state can vary markedly from East to West, often widening the gulf of misunderstanding that lurks between the two. Depending on one's point of view, civil society can also be understood as a particular set of institutionalized relationships between state and society based on the principles of citizenship, civil rights, representation and the rule of law.