Finding out what to find out….focusing on youth!

The last few months, I must admit I have been struggling with getting things clear in my head. Sometimes it feels as if every time I read a new article, I want change my research questions.

One thing is clear, though: I want to find out too much, at the same time. I want to find out what civil society means in the context of Africa and Malawi, I want to learn more about how international development actors such as INGO’s work with local actors, and I want to know more about what effect this has. AND, I want to explore the role of children and young people within civil society in developing countries. I wish I was writing a book and had three years of research ahead of me.

As I was reading, thinking, and banging my head against the wall, I found that AGE was an interesting factor, and one which often seemed ignored in the literature and research on civil soceity.  There are more youth now in the world than ever, and most of them live in developing countries. This presents risks as well as opportunities. Large groups of frustrated youth have been the driving force in regime changes during the last few years. How does this change how we conceptualise civil society? How do young people in developing countries see themselves within civil society, what role can youth organisations play in development?

This might seem as if I am broadening out even further, but I hope that it can be a way of narrowing down my research focus. By focusing on particular youth organsations and networks, and explore how they work with and are supported by other actors such as INGO’s  such as Plan and other local organiastions, I hope I can shed light on an area of high relevance to development work as well as issues such as governance and participation more generally. How do such youth organisations understand civil society and their own role within it? Does the organisations become strengthened as a result of working with INGO’s?  If so, how, and if not, why not?

 

 

What is Civil Society? And what is it in Africa?

I guess the starting point has to be civil society itself. What is it? Is it a western concept that does not apply well to the african context? Or does it apply, but takes different forms and has to be understood in a different way?

My initial thought is that civil society is the arena outside the state or the market, where people voluntarily act together to achieve or to do something. In other words, it could be anything from a women’s group or an environmental organisation to a religious group or a marching band. This is much in line with Riddel’s definition:

“civil society refers to all people, activities, relationships and formal and informal groups that are not part of the process of government. It includes an array civil society organisations (CSO’s) (…) together with all the other non-governmental groups and associations, including trade unions, business associations, and looser groupings such as social movements, networks and even virtual groups” (Riddel, 2007)

Now, is this something universal that applies everywhere, or a westernized concept with limited usefulness and applicability in developing countries? I am just at the start of reading, and look forward to be enlightened and confused.

Welcome!

This blog is aimed at those who find development and voluntary organisations as exciting and interesting as I do – either as professionals, academics, or just people interested in the state of the world and processes of social and political change.

Through this blog, I will attempt to document my process of doing research for my masters thesis, as part of my Development Management course at the University of Agder. I hope to write in a way that is accessible and relevant, and through that spark some debate, input and suggestions from the world of knowledgable people out there. And, hopefully, if I go completely off track, or write stuff nobody understands or finds useful – someone will read it and tell me.