1

Research Proposal

Student Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Code: Course Name

Instructor’s name and Title

Assignment Due Date

 2

Civil Society and Development in the Global South

Subject

The definitions of civil society can vary depending on the social, political and historical

setting. Nevertheless, civil society has always been linked to the development of a specific type

of society that seeks to achieve greater good. In the modern day, it includes a wide range of

different organizations, which range from community groups, non-governmental organizations,

trade unions as well as faith-based groups (Della Porta, 2020). Civil society has particularly been a

significant force in driving development in various countries in the global south. In these

countries, the Civil Society serves as a source of empowerment, encouraging social cohesion and

addressing multiple challenges. However, more research is needed to explore the various ways

through which these organizations influence development in the global south.

My research will contribute to this by conducting a case study on The Employed

Women's Association (SEWA), which is located in India. The organization empowers various

individuals in different communities through multiple efforts that include disaster relief,

healthcare, humanitarian services as well as education. My research will explore various efforts

by SEWA by looking into its initiatives to identify the multiple ways through which civil society

contributes to development in the global south. Through examining the various experiences,

achievements as well as challenges it has faced, we can then obtain important information about

the social systems. The information will then help inform us on the processes of civil society

involvement as well as the various effects that it has on the achievement of inclusive

development.

Tentative Argument
 3

The civil society, which includes various organizations, serves a crucial role in promoting

development in the global south in various ways such as empowering communities as well as

promoting social cohesion. The research, therefore, proposes a case study on SEWA to explore

the effect of these efforts. The various sections that will be needed to explore the specific topic

will include the introduction, theoretical framework, Research Methodology to outline the

approach to the research, Case Study, Discussion as well as conclusion. The approach will help

us understand the full potential of society in transforming and informing future development

strategies.

Bibliography

Singh, A. (2020). Civil Society and Governance in South Asia: Issues and Challenges. Building

Sustainable Communities, pp.465–479. doi https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2393-9_22.

The paper provides a better understanding of the critical perspectives on the role that is

played by various civil societies on various economic, social, political and cultural aspects in the

South Asian countries. It achieves this by offering a comprehensive analysis of civil society in

South Asia, therefore providing important insights into the growth, formation as well and various

challenges that civil societies in South Asia face. The importance of the source to the discussion

on the relevance of civil societies in the development of the global south all lies in the paper's

examination of the growth of civil societies with a major focus on countries in South Asia. The

paper will contribute to the research by providing a historical context where we can explore the

changes that have been associated with specific civil societies in South Asia. Additionally, the

paper explores the various factors that affect the growth as well as the influence of civil societies

in South Asia. This includes multiple levels of economic development, political democracy, and
 4

culture, social and historical composition. The paper also highlights the ever-growing emphasis

on greater community involvement for better governance. This information will help explain

why various civil society organizations located in South Asia emphasize community-driven plans

as well as participatory approaches.

Erika Cornelius Smith and Hamel, Z. (2023). Global Civil Society. Springer eBooks, pp.616–

618. doi https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74319-6_219.

The paper discusses the ever-evolving concept of civil societies in terms of globalization

as well as global security studies. The paper discusses the blurred boundaries that exist between

society, economy and politics and, therefore, highlights the various ways in which the

globalization processes have, in turn, changed global governance. It highlights the multiple ways

through which different civil society groups are becoming more and more powerful each day

throughout international as well as national borders and, in turn, blurring the line that exists

between local and international politics. The article is an important source of information for the

study since it explores the role civil society has played in the development of various countries

all over the world by examining how social actors, which include civil society, have become

politically influential in the modern world. Additionally, by exploring the civil society's goals,

tactics and organization, the paper provides a deep understanding of the various ways through

which the civil society serves to influence the dynamics of global security. The paper also

highlights the security challenges faced in different countries, including those in the worldwide

south, by exploring the tactics used by civil societies in advocating for peace, social justice and

human rights.
 5

Toepler, S., Zimmer, A., Fröhlich, C. and Obuch, K. (2020). The Changing Space for NGOs:

Civil Society in Authoritarian and Hybrid Regimes. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of

Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 31(4), pp.649–662. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-

020-00240-7.

The article explores the issue of civil society in the hybrid as well as the hybrid regimes

all over the world. It explores the role that is played by the various civil society organizations

where they serve as agents of democratization. It also examines the difficulties as well as the

limitations that are encountered by non-governmental organizations that operate in different

political environments through utilizing theoretical models as well as empirical studies. It

achieves this by looking into the various ways through which hybrid and authoritarian regimes

have manipulated civil society and the manner in which this civil society responded to these

limitations. It highlights the importance of international solidarity as it analyzes the

consequences of reducing public space for social justice, democracy and human rights. The

paper relates to the main topic of research by shedding light on interactions between governance,

civil society and development in challenging environments and, therefore, contributes to the

discussion on the role of civil societies in driving progressive change in the global south.

Examining the various strategies that authoritarian and hybrid governments employ to crush

dissent and limit civic space highlights the role of societal engagement and resilience in

advancing inclusive development goals.

Bibliography
 6

Dathe, T., Dathe, R., Dathe, I. and Helmold, M. (2022). The State and Civil Society.

Management for professionals, pp.149–158. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92357-

0_11.

Della Porta, D. (2020). Building Bridges: Social Movements and Civil Society in Times of

Crisis. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations,

31(5). doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-020-00199-5.

Fotopoulou, A. (2020). Conceptualizing critical data literacies for civil society organizations:

agency, care, and social responsibility. Information, Communication & Society, pp.1–18.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118x.2020.1716041.

Haug, S., Braveboy-Wagner, J. and Maihold, G. (2021). The ‘Global South’ in the study of

world politics: examining a meta category. Third World Quarterly, 42(9), pp.1–22. doi

https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2021.1948831.

Heller, C. and Pécoud, A. (2019). Counting Migrants’ Deaths at the Border: From Civil Society

Counterstatistics to (Inter)Governmental Recuperation. American Behavioral Scientist,

64(4), pp.480–500. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764219882996.

Nugmanovna, M.A. (2022). The place and significance of social and legal control in the legal

socialization of the individual in civil society. Asian Journal of Research in Social

Sciences and Humanities, 12(2), pp.21–33. doi https://doi.org/10.5958/2249-

7315.2022.00070.3.
 7

Pereira, L., Frantzeskaki, N., Hebinck, A., Charli-Joseph, L., Drimie, S., Dyer, M., Eakin, H.,

Galafassi, D., Karpouzoglou, T., Marshall, F., Moore, M.-L., Olsson, P., Siqueiros-García,

J.M., van Zwanenberg, P. and Vervoort, J.M. (2019). Transformative spaces in the making:

key lessons from nine cases in the Global South. Sustainability Science, 15(1), pp.161–178.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00749-x.

Roman, M., Varga, H., Cvijanovic, V. and Reid, A. (2020). Quadruple Helix Models for

Sustainable Regional Innovation: Engaging and Facilitating Civil Society Participation.

Economies, 8(2), p.48. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/economies8020048.

Questions/Problems

Having gone through the articles and papers related to the research, I have yet to have

any additional questions about the topic at the moment. Nevertheless, I do recognize the need for

further exploration into the topic, which will help me understand as well as develop my ideas

fully. I also remain open to guidance and support that would deepen my ideas and insights

deeply.