What is Civil Society? A Primer

Abstract

This summary is designed to serve as an initial source of information on the topic of civil society for elected officials, political advisors, the media and other interested citizens. Designed as a working document, it builds on the standard international definition of civil society. It deliberately omits the discourses conducted among experts and, although published in the academic series OPUSCULA, it omits intertextual references in the interest of readability. The selection of literature at the end is intended to stimulate further study of the topic. The staff of the Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society will be happy to provide further information.