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Organized Civil Society: A Cross National Evaluation Of The Socio-Political Effects Of Non-Governmental Organization Density On Governmental Corruption, State Terror, And Anti-Government Demonstrations

Forbis, Jeremy S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1228222149

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Sociology.
Current world polity, international activism, and global civil society research reveal a common interest in the relationship between international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and civil society. This interest is derived from a long standing theoretical convention emphasizing the pro-social effects of a robust civil sector. Although many of these studies have concluded that INGOs constitute international or global civil society, much is still unknown about the relationship between NGOs, INGOs and civil society. In this dissertation, I collect data published by the Yearbook of International Organizations to create a more refined measurement of organized civil society. Specifically I develop a density measurement of organized civic society to better account for the local “buy in” among citizens. Descriptive analysis indicates that organization density is highly correlated to associational membership rates. Using a globally representative sample of nations between 1990 and 2004, I argue and demonstrate that the presence of an active civil society works to decrease governmental corruption, reduce state terror, and minimize the impetus for anti-governmental demonstrations and riots. In other words, the presence of a robust civil society holds governments accountable, protects its citizens, and provides a suitable outlet for people to voice their concerns and be heard. Data are analyzed using a pooled time-series, cross-sectional (TSCS) analysis. Results show that civil society strength does have a significant impact on governmental corruption, state terrorism and anti-governmental demonstrations. These results remain significant when accounting for economic development, political institutions, and cultural-geographic controls. By emphasizing the role organized civil society plays in a broad sample of nations, this study refines our understanding of the role that non-state actors assume in the health and maintenance of their own societies. Consequently, this project demonstrates the importance of including the role of civil society in future studies of political stability.
Edward Crenshaw, PhD (Advisor)
J. Craig Jenkins, PhD (Committee Member)
Pamela Paxton, PhD (Committee Member)
171 p.
Political Science; Sociology
Civil Society; NGO; Corruption; State Terror; Protests

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Forbis, J. S. (2008). Organized Civil Society: A Cross National Evaluation Of The Socio-Political Effects Of Non-Governmental Organization Density On Governmental Corruption, State Terror, And Anti-Government Demonstrations [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1228222149

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Forbis, Jeremy. Organized Civil Society: A Cross National Evaluation Of The Socio-Political Effects Of Non-Governmental Organization Density On Governmental Corruption, State Terror, And Anti-Government Demonstrations. 2008. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1228222149.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Forbis, Jeremy. "Organized Civil Society: A Cross National Evaluation Of The Socio-Political Effects Of Non-Governmental Organization Density On Governmental Corruption, State Terror, And Anti-Government Demonstrations." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1228222149

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.