Shaping Globalization: Civil Society, Cultural Power and Threefolding

Civil Society has become a major power in the world, with victories such as the Arab Spring, the grassroots movement that helped elect former US President Barack Obama, and the anti-fracking campaign. Shaping Globalization argues that global civil society is a cultural institution wielding cultural power and can advance its agenda without compromising its identity. Nicanor Perlas outlines the strategic implications for civil society, and explains that civil society's key task is to inaugurate 'threefolding' - the forging of strategic partnerships between civil society, government and business.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2019
Publisher: Temple Lodge Publishing

Civil society has emerged as a significant force on the global stage, with a series of remarkable victories and achievements. The defeat of the controversial Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI), the widespread protests against the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the annual gatherings of the World Social Forum are just a few examples of its growing influence. Civil society's impact was further amplified by events such as the Arab Spring, the grassroots movement that led to the election of former US President Barack Obama, and the successful campaign against fracking. With tens of millions of citizens and over a trillion dollars invested in advancing its agenda, civil society has joined the state and the market as the third key institution shaping globalization.

Despite its growing power, civil society faces challenges in fully mobilizing its resources and power. One of the key issues is a lack of clarity about its identity. Shaping Globalization argues that global civil society is a cultural institution wielding cultural power, and it provides insights into how civil society can advance its agenda in the political and economic realms without compromising its core values. Nicanor Perlas outlines the strategic implications for civil society, both locally and globally, and emphasizes the importance of forging strategic partnerships between civil society, government, and business.

Authentic tri-sector partnerships are crucial for advancing new ways for nations to develop and for charting a different, sustainable type of globalization. The model of the Philippine Agenda 21 serves as an example of how civil society and progressive individuals and agencies in government and business are demonstrating the effectiveness of this new understanding to ensure that globalization benefits the environment, the poor, and society as a whole.

In conclusion, civil society has become a major power in the world, with a growing influence and a significant impact on global politics and economics. However, it faces challenges in fully mobilizing its resources and power. By embracing its cultural power and forging strategic partnerships with government and business, civil society can play an even more significant role in shaping a more equitable and sustainable world.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 155 x 233 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912230297