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Engaging Civil Society
Book chapter

Engaging Civil Society

Robert J. Brulle
Global Environmental Change, pp 959-966
11 Jul 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5784-4_65

Abstract

Challenge messages Civil society Democratic deliberation Public sphere Social learning Social movements Threat messages
As environmental degradation has accelerated, it is becoming increasingly apparent that our existing social institutions are incapable of generating and sustaining actions necessary to meaningfully address this issue. Because civil society stands outside of the dominant logics of the economy and the nation state, it provides a location for the generation and advocacy of innovative actions. To foster and engage civil society in taking these actions, we need to address several issues. First, there is a need for a broad-based democratization of the political arena, so that citizens can meaningfully participate in their own governance. Second, the means by which information regarding the state of environmental degradation is communicated needs to shift toward challenge campaigns, in which the dire status of the environment is openly acknowledged, and the capacity for citizen initiatives is encouraged. Finally, an alternative vision of an ecologically sustainable society needs to be developed to serve as an inspiration in the formation of social movements capable of effecting social change. Thus democratic action by civil society plays a critical role in developing the capacity to guide our economic and administrative systems toward sustainability.

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