Civil Society
Civil Society
Civil Society
Civil society is the sphere of voluntary human association and collective action that exists between the individual and the state. Classical liberals recognize that the institutions that constitute civil society — such as families, religious communities, neighborhood and professional clubs and associations, and philanthropic communities — are rich in their potential to address a wide range of social problems. Informed by local knowledge born of close-in ties, civil society can be much more effective than government at addressing social problems and are less hampered by bureaucratic and inflexible rules. As government programs expand, they often crowd out the institutions of civil society and their role in discovering solutions and providing assistance.