• Strengthening civil society

Strengthening civil society

Since the drafting of the new South African Constitution, with its strong emphasis on both civil and socio-economic rights, there has been much debate on how these rights translate into policy and, even more critically, how they translate into actual dynamics of participation which are meaningful and empowering to citizens. Similarly, the responsibilities of citizens and the accountability of those involved in positions of power in governance have come increasingly under the media spotlight. How do these notions help understanding participatory dynamics in South Africa? How can these dynamics be improved upon? What is government doing (at different levels) and what are citizens doing and how do they understand their roles as citizens?

This paper examines key issues and dilemmas around participatory governance processes in South Africa including the ways in which the processes themselves are understood. It also illustrates the ways in which participation links to community notions of ‘active citizenship’ and how both political and socio-economic rights are claimed in different ways across issue areas.

Specific areas discussed include:

• social movements to men’s support groups
• transitional governance and community participation
• widening spaces for citizen participation
• the challenges of building participatory local government
  

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