This book looks at the role that civil society organizations play in dealing
with conflict and violence. The authors argue that in most of the prevalent
conceptualizations the conflict dimension of civil society is either downplayed
or inadequately addressed. They contend that the ability to deal with conflict
is at the heart of organized civil society; in the political process, one of
civil society's key functions is to express and mediate between different
interests, thus contributing to political decision-making.
The chapters draw on detailed, empirical data from the CIVICUS Civil Society
Index - a unique comparative data-set drawn from 25 countries, which has not
previously been made