Civil society and its democratic role

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THE future of civil society in Southeast Asia rests in the disagreement over whether the definition of civil society has a democratic role. Some authorities in the region argue that this is unsuitable for Asian societies, said James Gomez , Research and Project Manager of Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Singapore.

Authorities in the region, he said, see civil society not as legitimate political actions by individuals or non-political parties. For them, civil society is largely pictured as being non-political and working in partnership with government.

"In many countries in the region there is a reluctance on the part of the governments to include political discussion groups, policy groups and other human rights groups into the category of civil society.

"Groups such as these frequently adopt an adversarial stance against the establishment," he said.

He added governments in East and Southeast Asia have recognised that there is a new emerging force of democratisation and in reaction, conservative regimes in the region have adopted a variety of strategies to deal with this.

One method is by attempting to shape and push civil society into non- controversial areas or to co-opt the leadership. Another method is to urge civil society groups to be non-partisan.

They are asked not to directly challenge the prevailing government but instead encouraged or challenged to use the political party system and to contest elections.

He argued that civil society is very much a part of and central to political society and to clinically separate the two is a failure to understand the symbiotic relationship between civil and political society.

"It is this contest for political space and the right to political participation that will shape the future of civil society in East and Southeast Asia," he said.

Professor Prudhisan Jumbala, Faculty of Political Science at Chulalongkorn University, discussed Thailand's civil society and democratisation and said:

"Civility bespeaks a common standard within which a multiplicity of ways, of living, working and associating are tolerated.

"Openness to difference and civility have to be continuously taught and learned; they have to be worked at.

"The future of civil society in Thailand depends on this learning process and so does the future of civil society in Asia."

Meanwhile, Pierre P. Lizee, Assistant Professor of International Politics, Brock University, Canada talked about the role civil society could play on the construction of security in Southeast Asia.

He said the economic crisis had raised demands for a more equitable social contract from groups which have been marginalised or disempowered by the crisis.