Instructional Guide for Teachers
Understanding Culture, Society & Politics
Module 8: Civil Society
Author: Jorge V. Tigno, DPA
More modules at https://sibika.ph/
In its broadest sense, civil society refers to the set of institutions and patterns of behaviors situated between the
state, business, and the family. But unlike government, business, and the family, civil society is able to take on
many shapes and sizes as well as varied forms of action. For this reason, civil society is frequently seen as a
contested concept. Civil society embodies voluntary and self-help aspects of human society, ranging from
philanthropic institutions to labor unions to aid networks.
| Most Essential Learning Competencies
● Analyze the forms and functions of social organizations;
● Explain the forms and functions of state and non-state institutions;
● Examine the concept, characteristics, and forms of stratification systems using sociological
perspectives;
● Suggest ways to address social inequalities (local, national, and global); and
● Examine human responses to emerging challenges in contemporary societies.
| Content Standards | Performance Standards
By the end of this module, learners are expected to By the end of this module, learners are expected to:
demonstrate an understanding of:
● Analyze aspects of social organization;
● Cultural, social and political institutions as sets ● Identify one's role in social groups and
of norms and patterns of behavior that relate to institutions; and
major social interests; and ● Evaluates factors causing social, political, and
● The agents/institutions, processes, and cultural change.
outcomes of cultural, political, and social
change.
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
Lesson 1: What is Civil Society?
| Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to be able to:
● Define civil society;
● Describe how civil society has evolved; and
● Understand the roles played by civil society in ensuring equity and sustainable development as well as
an accountable and responsible government.
| Key Concepts
● Civil society - space closely interacting with state, business and family which helps cultivate common
values and bring about social change.
● Civil society organization (CSO) - organized groups in civil society.
● Non-governmental organization (NGO) - professional groups aiming towards improving public affairs.
● People’s Organization (PO) - membership-based groups support and mobilize for the welfare of the
collective.
● Social capital - connections and values that inspire or achieve goals benefitting concerned
organizations.
| Study Guide
A. Show a movie that is able to convey the power of civil society (example: A Dangerous Life) and discuss
the impact that civil society organizations (CSOs) have had on politics.
Discuss using these guide questions:
● What is civil society? What are the kinds of civil society organizations (CSOs)?
● How has civil society evolved over time?
● What is the role of civil society today?
| Self-Evaluation Form (Part 1)
Complete the chart below. Write in the green box what you already know about civil society. On the yellow
box, write a question that you have in your mind about civil society. Lastly, write on the red box what you
want to learn more about civil society in this module.
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
| Civil Society
No fundamental social change occurs merely because government acts. It’s because civil society, the
conscience of a country, begins to rise up and demand…demand change.
Joe Biden (2014)
Remarks to the Press with Q&A by Vice President Joe Biden in Guatemala
As an introduction, watch this video to have a better idea of civil society.
Private business organizations operate primarily out of a desire to earn profit. Civil society is associated with
voluntary actions by individuals and groups working to help others in need. Civil society initiatives are
characterized as non-profit, their services provided freely or at nominal cost compared to the business sector.
Civil society actions can be either organized or spontaneous. Organized civil society actions are referred to as
civil society organizations (CSOs) which can take different forms, the most common being
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), and non-profit organizations
(NPOs).
Watch this video to know more about civil society and NGOs.
Civil society is not the same as family dynasties or clans. The members of civil society are not related to one
another by blood or personal affinities. While it is normal for family members to help one another primarily out
of a sense of familial obligation or filial devotion, the members of civil society come from different
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
backgrounds but are bound by a common desire or shared interest to serve and help even strangers in
need.
In the Philippines, civil society played a key role in the People Power Movement that led to the end of
authoritarian political rule in 1986. Up to now, civil society continues to play a major role in demanding greater
accountability, transparency, and responsibility in the government as well as the private business sector.
Accountability organizations like the Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) work towards
reducing and preventing corruption in government.With connection to the right to demand for accountability and
transparency, organizations support individuals and improve their awareness of their rights relative to the
institution or the sphere they belong to. These organizations unite people based on their experiences, build
advocacies and suggest action plans. An example for this case is the Nationwide Association of Consumers,
Inc. (NACI), which is a non-government entity engaged in activities that promote consumer rights and
protection.
Civil society also manifests itself in efforts to promote sustainable development, develop disaster
preparedness and resilience, protect the environment, and minimize the effects of climate change. The
Center for Disaster Preparedness (CPD) is a resource center promoting community-based disaster risk
management. The Haribon Foundation is a well-known organization dedicated to nature conservation and
sustainable development.
In addition to these forms of civil society, there are also the spontaneous self-help initiatives of various
individuals acting out of a concern for their fellow human beings during times of need and emergencies. The
community pantries that have sprouted in many parts of the country during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020
are examples of such voluntary humanitarian efforts of civil society.
In addition to criticizing the government and businesses, civil society can also work with government
institutions by enhancing or supplementing their capacities. Article II of the 1987 Constitution mandates the
State to “encourage non-governmental, community-based, sectoral organizations” towards promoting
the nation’s welfare. Likewise, the 1991 Local Government Code allows for the participation of NGOs and
POs in local governance.
Civil society organizations have gained greater recognition at local, national, and international levels.
Intergovernmental platforms are increasingly acknowledging the important role that civil society plays in
crafting effective policies and programs. The Global Compact for Migration (GCM) is an intergovernmental
conference that allows for the discussion of issues related to safe, orderly, and regular migration. While it may
be intergovernmental in nature, part of the GCM process includes modalities that allow for civil society
engagements and consultations.
Policy changes happen primarily through government institutions while the market and the private business
sectors play a role in bringing about prosperity and economic growth. The role of civil society is to check on the
government and businesses. The overall function of civil society is to push for conditions that promote
equitable and sustainable development as well as demand for greater accountability from the
government to the people.
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
| Evolution of Civil Society
Civil society is a space located between the state, business, and the family. Civil society involves a range of
bodies and initiatives that go beyond the personal towards the societal. Being a broad domain, civil society can
be an ambiguous concept (Harrison et al, 2015).
Civil society is distinguished from the public institutions of the state and the private institutions of the business
sector. However, some members of civil society can and do belong to either government institutions or private
business entities. Agents of civil society have become a potent social, economic, and political force today.
The meaning of civil society has changed over time. Civil society originally meant a political community
or association where social conflicts were resolved. During the classical period, civil society was
understood to be a good society, indistinguishable from the state. In Ancient Greece, for instance, there was no
distinction between society and the state as we know it today. Civility was an essential component of living in
the polis—the city state of antiquity.
With the birth of the sovereign state system in the 17th century, social relations became distinct from
political relations. Thomas Hobbes contends that civility is a function of a social contract in which man’s
natural rights are surrendered to a sovereign or Leviathan.
By the 19th century, the meaning of civil society had acquired its current form as a set of non-state
(non-political) entities and relations. Georg Hegel distinguished between the political state and civil society.
According to Hegel, civil society is a realm that “intervenes between the family and the state” (Hegel 1821,
Section 182).
Antonio Gramsci, in the early part of the 20th century, looked upon civil society as the platform for a particular
class—the bourgeoisie—and understood it as a contributor of cultural and ideological hegemony which are
patterns of power relations among social groups. Gramsci saw civil society as the sphere where ideas and
beliefs are shaped and reproduced, such as in schools, religious institutions, and mass media, among many
others (Chakraborty, 2016).
In 1995, Robert Putnam published an essay entitled Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital in
which he argued that civil society embodies social trust and altruism. In the book, Putnam describes the
notion of social capital as “networks, norms, and trust that facilitate action and cooperation for mutual
benefit” among social organizations (Putnam 1995, p.35).
Today, civil society is seen as a platform for caring for people and values in common, such as human
rights and climate change. Moreover, civil society also has a role to play in bringing about greater
transparency and accountability in government as well as ensuring democratic participation in
governance. Civil society is a diverse and dynamic sector (Akihiro, 2018).
In the Philippines, organized elements of civil society are known as NGOs and POs. In the past, these
NGOs and POs have also been called cause-oriented groups and the third sector. People’s organizations
(POs) are membership-based associations “that organize and mobilize their constituents in support of
collective welfare goals” while Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) are “professional
organizations… concerned with public welfare goals” (Clarke 1998, pp. 2-3). NGOs are also likely to
provide support and assistance to POs, which would have a wider and more popular base.
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
Since the proclamation of the Local Government Code in 1991, NGOs and POs have been seen as partners
in local development in the Philippines. A number of CSOs have formed themselves into party-list
organizations through the Party-List Act of 1995. Moreover, there have been cases of NGOs and POs being
organized and sponsored by political families. As such, the dividing line between civil society and
government has become less distinct in the Philippines.
| Synchronous Activities
Activity: Class Debate
Instructions.
Step 1. Divide the class into three groups representing government, business, and civil society.
Step 2. Assign a topic/issue for the class to cover using their assigned sector as take-off point.
Step 3. Sample issues / questions can be: What should (your assigned sector) do to address the
problem of (climate change, the pandemic, crime and drugs).
| Asynchronous Activities
Activity: Home Group Work
Instructions.
Step 1. Divide the class into several groups.
Step 2. Ask the students to observe what goes on in their community that they would consider to be the
work of civil society.
Step 3. Each group then summarizes their observations and then reports these to the class.
| Self-Paced Learning (Optional Activities)
Activity : Reflection
Instructions. Dwell on the following questions and come up with your own stance:
● How can civil society be a good thing?
● Can civil society also be harmful and violent?
● Is it possible for CSOs to be organized by the government and the private business sector?
● Can civil society replace government?
● How can civil society be regulated?
● Is there a decline or increase in civil society involvement among citizens in the Philippines?
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
| Self-Evaluation Form (Part 2)
Complete the chart below. Write in the green box what you have learned about civil society in this module. On
the yellow box, write a new question that you have in your mind about civil society. Lastly, write on the red box
how you will apply your understanding of civil society in improving Philippine society.
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
| Rubric for Discussions
Needs
Excellent Above Average Developing
Improvement
Content:
The central
theme/idea/argument
of the student’s
output is focused and
supported by
evidence which
indicates mastery of
the content.
Organization:
The flow of the
discussion of the
central
theme/idea/theme is
coherent.
Presentation:
The form and
presentation of the
central theme/idea
is clear, persuasive,
polite, and easy to
understand.
| Learning Material
What is Civil Society? Youtube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v-dyeCr7RM.
Strengthening the Capacity of Philippine Civil Society Organizations Youtube. Available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj2HYFoLi90
NGOs and Civil Society. Youtube. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtcMUC-OBfc
Alagappa, M. (2004). Civil Society and Political Change in Asia. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
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Instructional Guide for Teachers
Module 8: Civil Society
| References
Akihiro, O. 2018. Introduction in Routledge Handbook of Civil Society in Asia, edited by Akihiro Ogawa.
London and New York: Routledge, pp. 1-14.
Chakraborty, S.L. (2016) Gramsci's idea of civil society. International Journal of Research in Humanities
and Social Studies 3(6): 19–27.
Clarke, G. 1998. The Politics of NGOs in South-East Asia: Participation and Protest in the Philippines.
London and New York: Routledge.
Harrison, L, Little, Adrian, and Lock, Edward. 2015. Politics: The Key Concepts. London and New York:
Routledge.
Hegel, G. 1821. Elements of the Philosophy of Right, edited by Allen W. Wood published by Cambridge
University Press.
Putnam, R. 1995. Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital. Journal of Democracy 6 (1):
65-78.
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