Civil society in a weak state : the case of Bangladesh, 1971-2006

Abstract

The study examines the role of civil society in a weak state that is Bangladesh. Data has been collected from two main sources namely documents and interviews. This study assumes that firstly the type, nature and the distribution of power in the state determines the relationship between state and the civil society; secondly, civil society groups tend to take over the key functions of the state and emboldened by their success, the civil society groups, tend to deviate from their traditional activities and get involved in business and political activities; thirdly, that strong civil society groups in a weak state become intolerant towards their fellow groups, social values and the state and finally, challenged by increasing civil society activities, the state undertakes steps to regain control over the civil society. However, this research has examined the involvement of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs in Bangladesh. Larry Diamond and Edward Shills have agreed that the civil society organisations are distinct from other groups in the society at least in four basic respect which are: concern with public ends, voluntary and non-profit making, non-political and civil and tolerant. Two main NGOs in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and Proshika Manabik Unnyan Kendra [Proshika Human Development Centre] are the focus of the study. The study has found that the NGOs claiming to be part of civil society organisations do not exhibit all the above four characteristics. Although NGOs work for public ends they go against the other indicators such as voluntary, non-profit making, non-political, civility and tolerance. Throughout the history of Bangladesh, the State has shown some reactions whenever the NGOs have gone beyond the traditional civil society concept.