The Civil Society
The attention of society and scientific circles has for long focused on the state and the market economy, and the relation between them. During the recent years, a third sector of the society has gained ground alongside these two; it is, indeed, called the "third sector", or the civil society. One reason for this interest is the increasing importance of the third sector in creating employment; the civil society, however, is more than this. There is good reason to proclaim that a strong civil society and the social or confidence capital generated therein are prerequisites for the functioning of the state and the economy.
Ove Korsgaard has examined why the term civil society has been adopted into the Nordic usage relatively late. According to his interpretation, the concept has existed before in the Nordic countries and elsewhere in Europe in the form people (folk, Volk, kansa). For instance, we speak of popular adult education (folkoplysning, folkbildning, kansansivistys) when we refer to activity in the free, voluntary and non-profit third sector. It is, in fact, often defined by means of negation: it is a question of non-governmental, non-profit activity.
The beginning of the civil society dates back to the 18th century, to the times when the differentiation of the authoritarian state started. The bourgeoisie strove for economic liberty, and organisational activity began. At first, both areas of this newly gained liberty were called the civil society. The clear definition of the new tripartite society is credited to two Scots: Adam Smith's work Wealth of Nations was a defence of liberal market; Adam Fergusson wrote in 1976 An Essay on the History of Civil Society, where he described the differences between the state and the civil society. People should have a legal right to defend themselves, even in relation to the state, and the freedom to form free and independent organisations. It could be said that if the function of the market is commodity production, the function of the civil society is to produce values and social ethics.
The institutional core of the civil society is indeed an ideological organisation based on voluntary participation, a stronghold of liberal discussion. Organisations cover various activities, which can be based on religion, culture, academic institutions, communications, sports, leisure activities, study circles, civic activity, grass-root movements, alternative movements, political movements, labour organisations, etc. Occasionally, family and other immediate surroundings are counted as civil society. In Finland, even the municipalities prefer to be regarded as a part of the civil society rather than the public administration.
A genuine civil society, and the ideological enthusiasm enabling it, arose in the Nordic countries during the latter part of the 19th century. Finland, too, is a country of countless organisations. The Danes have a saying that where three people meet, two associations are established. In the course of the years civic organisations grew powerful and formed the backbone of all civic activity. Today, many of the largest organisations are facing difficulties. It is evident, however, that even today's citizens need communities, although they might make their choices with somewhat more criticism and for a shorter term than before.
Voluntary civic activity has been a solid foundation both for democracy and the development of the welfare state, both in the Nordic countries and in Europe at large. The discussion within the civil society controls the state and those who wield power. Correspondingly, it could be stated that one of the fundamental mistakes of the so called real socialism was the suppression of the genuine civil society based on freedom and voluntary participation. This is why the birth of a civil society may be a key factor for the future of countries now in transition; at least the issue is worth an in-depth discussion.
The civil society is independent from the state, but a democratic state may support the civil society in the same way it supports the market: primarily by providing the opportunities for education and personal development. It is essential to discuss the relation of the state and the civil society, and the principles by which a democratic state can, for its part, ensure conditions for the civil society. Nevertheless, there can be no civil society without the citizens' efforts to promote the common good by means of free and voluntary cooperation, the primary motivation of which is not financial gain.
Seppo Niemelä
