Civil society and social movement in Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe.

Resumo

In the 1970s, the term “civil society” was reinvented almost simultaneously in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. The problems of consolidating democracy are often interpreted as the result of a weakened civil society that has not established itself as an independent arena in the new political system. This article explores the basic similarities and differences in the character of civil society in both regions as well as asks several questions concerning its relations with political regimes and the role of social movements and international nongovernment organizations in the formation of civil society.