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Civil Society: The American Model and Third World Development
Civil Society The American Model and Third World Development Author:Howard Wiarda Using case studies from sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, and including such critical countries as South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, and Egypt, Civil Society focuses on the processes and politics of dismantling "corporate" (state directed) economies in the Third World in order to move ... more »toward civil societies of free associability and democracy. The book presents a number of significant findings and recommendations, for example:
Civil society plays an emerging role in East Asia and Latin America but is still weak in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
No one model of development fits all countries. It is imperative to recognize and accommodate indigenous aspects of civil society in development.
Corporatism will remain especially important in countries at a middle level of development as they make the transition from authoritarianism to democracy. REVIEW: "Will stimulate thought and debate over the western model of civil society and its application in the less developed world." (Michael Kryzanek, Chair of the Department of the Political Science, Bridgewater State College) REVIEW: "Wiarda is one of the leading scholars of 'corporatism,' and he has been for decades." (Phil Kelly, professor of political science, Emporia State University)« less