The Role, Concept And Work Of Civil Society (Cso) In India: An Analysis

Abstract

The term ‘civil society’ can be traced back to the works of traditional Greek and Roman
philosophers like Aristotle and Cicero. As a matter of fact, Aristotle is credited with the very
first practice of the term. The term, which at that period of time was taken, as synonymous
to political institution, has developed a completely opposite meaning in today’s discourse
and is referred to, as an independent body, distinct from the state. The modern idea of civil
society saw its genesis in the Scottish and Continental enlightenment era of the late
eighteenth century. An idea of civil society being parallel but distinct from the state was
developed by the political theorists’ right from Thomas Paine to George Hegel . According
to them, civil society was a domain, where involvement of citizens takes place in agreement
with their interests, desires, and wishes. Reflections of this changed school of thought could
be seen in the changed economic realities like rise of bourgeois, private properties, and
market competition