Reading Response: Civil Society

Reading Response 4: Civil Society

In the reading, “Civil Society,” Edwards discusses the concepts of civil society as a voluntary, associational life that primarily thrives within western cultures and deals with a community of citizens that have a shared common interest. The reading also focused on how civil societies promote progressive policies, nurture positive social norms that encourages stability, and advocates accountability and checks against state authority. Moreover, noting the beneficial work that civil societies provide for not only their community (or gemeinschaft) but also the broader society (or gesellschaft) as a whole. The concepts discussed in the reading also relate to nature and environmental issues that such civil societies
Similar to the Dakota Access Pipeline protest movement that also seeks to preserve the environment by protesting the underground oil pipeline that is being planned by the Dakota Access as a means of water protection from oil spills in the native land. Both these civil societies are prime examples of communities with the shared common interest of environment preservation that focuses on preventing damage caused by humans in order to protect nature and environment for the future. In addition, the civil societies also aid in educating the community to protect and restore the quality of the natural environment as well as getting involved in politics as further steps to continue the effort of economic preservation. For instance, some civil societies form political parties or work within various political parties to highlight their cause for the awareness, conservation, and protection of the environment. Thus, the community not only works within various organizations and social movements as a means of protecting natural resources and the environment but also works to gain political power as a way to then implement such laws or guidelines that will further help in the advocacy of environmental