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NEW BOOK (cont.) Globally, tens of millions of citizens and over a trillion dollars of resources are now involved in advancing the agenda of civil society. Some of the global institutions of civil society are larger than many U.N. institutions. Civil society, however, cannot fully mobilize its resources and power because it has no clear understanding of its identity, its meaning, and its context in larger society. This book shows that global civil society is a cultural institution wielding cultural power. Using cultural power, the book shows how civil society can advance its agenda in the political and economic realms of society without losing its identity as a cultural institution. On the contrary, it actually makes its rejection of or engagement with the state and market more effective and profound. From this new understanding, the book draws out the strategic implications for civil society in the local and global arenas. Among others, the book explains that the key task of civil society is to inaugurate threefolding substance and processes to ensure that globalization benefits the poor, societies and nature. Already, Philippine civil society and progressive individuals and agencies in government and business are demonstrating the effectiveness of this new understanding of civil society, cultural power and threefolding through the inauguration and beginning implementation of Philippine Agenda 21. There have been discussions about the “end of history” and the triumph of neo-liberal capitalism. The powerful emergence of global civil society, however, marks the beginning of a new history in which the forces of globalization will be tamed and harnessed to truly advance a civilization based on the highest human aspirations. This is the task that awaits us all.
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Ordering Information Contact: Center for Alternative Development Initiatives (CADI)
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GlobeNet3
Global Secretariat |
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