Definition of Civil Society

In society as a whole, citizens can create all kinds of organizations to replace or complement the state. This type of organization is known with a general term, civil society. This name refers to entities of a different nature: cultural, business, sports or neighborhood.

The idea of ​​civil society must be understood as the sum of all the organizations that spontaneously are created in a society.

On the other hand, this concept is associated with three main features: plurality, the independence of the state and the interest in citizenship.

Civil society organizations and the state

The set of entities that make up civil society promote services to the community. Its action aims to improve the services and benefits provided by the state. In other words, they are associations of individuals trying to respond to a series of needs to which the state does not provide an effective and satisfactory response.

An association of people with disability It is made up of people with some physical, mental or sensory limitation. This type of association knows very well what needs its associates have. The state can subsidize these organizations or supervise their management, but the direct intervention of the state cannot replace the proximity of these entities with their own reality.

In order to make social organizations more effective, collective platforms grouped into sectors are frequently formed. Thus, the sector of the economy Social is made up of companies and entities that seek economic benefit, but without forgetting values ​​such as solidarity, cooperation or integration of the most disadvantaged.

For one to be able to speak of a true civil society, a country must have a democratic regime in which individual rights and freedoms are respected. In an undemocratic state, the concept of civil society is void of content, since individuals cannot organize freely to defend their interests and concerns.

From a business perspective

The acronym S C refers to a type of company, civil society. Thus, when several people agree to the union of resources For a common purpose, a business organization is established whose legal form is known as civil society.

The purpose of this business modality is, logically, of an economic nature, but not of a speculative nature.

Any entity that is based on commercial speculation is a anonymous society and is governed by the commercial code. In contrast, a civil society is legally governed by the civil code.

Present in everyday life and social support

Non-governmental organizations, better known worldwide as NGOs, non-profit organizations (ONL), clubs and any other type of sports association that exist, religious groups, social clubs, unions, professional associations and neighborhood organizations are some of the most recognized civil societies worldwide and with which we can run into and why not also, go if we need your help, your mediation, to resolve, for example, a dispute with the state or with any other social actor.