Engaging civil society

Abstract

As environmental degradation has accelerated, it is becoming increasingly apparent that our existing social institutions are incapable of generating andsustaining actions necessary to meaningfully address this issue. Because civilsociety stands outside of the dominant logics of the economy and the nationstate, it provides a location for the generation and advocacy of innovativeactions. To foster and engage civil society in taking these actions, we need toaddress several issues. First, there is a need for a broad-based democratization ofthe political arena, so that citizens can meaningfully participate in their owngovernance. Second, the means by which information regarding the state ofenvironmental degradation is communicated needs to shift toward challengecampaigns, in which the dire status of the environment is openly acknowledged, and the capacity for citizen initiatives is encouraged. Finally, an alternativevision of an ecologically sustainable society needs to be developed to serve as an inspiration in the formation of social movements capable of effectingsocial change. Thus democratic action by civil society plays a critical role indeveloping the capacity to guide our economic and administrative systemstoward sustainability.