Institutions and Engagement in Civil Society

3.11.-3.12. Tue and Thu 16-18, U37 sh 4.

Registration for the course in WebOodi.

Prerequisites

Basic studies. Primarily for students majoring in the Subprogramme of Politics. Also for minor and exchange students.

Compensations

The course is worth of 2 (ECTS) credits and compensates one book in the study unit P220.

Target group/Course level

Primarily for students majoring in the Subprogramme of Politics. Also for minor and exchange students.

Objectives

The course familiarises the students with the concept of civil society and its organisations. Students learn about theoretical explanations and organisational features of the civic sector which not only covers different forms of (political) involvement but is also a central element of welfare state arrangements. The course therefore pays attention to the relation between the civic sector, the state and the economy and provides insight into practical aspects of engagement, in particular in the organisational context of associations.

Content

In the last two decades civil society has again developed into a major concept in political philosophy. This course, however, turns to civil society as an institutional sphere and looks at aspects of organisation and engagement in civil society. It focuses on forms of civic engagement that go beyond formal participation in elections and political parties. Civic engagement has gained attention because it can go beyond such traditional involvement in political institutions - sometimes even works in opposition to them. But over time civil society develops its own institutions in which engagement takes place. The tension and interaction between institutions and engagement is a central theme of this course.

At the outset conceptual issues and empirical dimensions of the civic sector are presented. One central question is the relation between political participation and other forms of civic activism, in particular those connected to welfare production. A look at current trends in engagement and empirical dimensions of the civic sector helps to clarify the role the civic sector plays. The course then presents the main theories about why citizens take an active role and organise themselves in associations. Although civil society is commonly seen as a sphere independent from the state there are multiple forms of interaction between both. In particular attempts to organise and activate civil society/civic engagement are widespread. The course presents such attempts in selected countries and on the EU-level. They are the focus of the final section.

Preliminary programme:

Conceptual and empirical issues

1. Overview: Theoretical dimensions of civil society
2. Political institutions and civic engagement
3. Historical and empirical dimensions of the civic sector

Approaches to the civic/nonprofit/third sector

1. Theories I: Undersupply, trust, entrepreneurship, neo institutional and principal-agent theories
2. Theories II: Social capital, resource and rational choice theories
3. Functions and discourse

Applied questions connected to civic engagement and civil society

1. Policies on and the activation of civic engagement
2. Europe and civil society
3. Aspects of organisation and management
4. Final discussion and feedback

A more detailed programme including a reading list will be published on the teacher's home page http://www.mv.helsinki.fi/home/hilger/

Completion

The course consists of 10 lectures with seminar discussions. Active participation in lectures and a final 4-5-page essay on a chosen topic.

Grading

The course work will be graded on a scale from 0-5:

• active course participation 30 %
• essay 70 %.

Course results and retake

The results of the course will be posted on the notice board of the Department. If the course work is not accepted or if the student wishes to raise his/her grade, he/she should contact the teacher within one month after the publication of the results and discuss arrangements for rewriting course work.

Course evaluation anddevelopment

During the last session, students will have an opportunity to give feedback on the course to the lecturer and to fill in an anonymous evaluation form. During the course feedback can be given anonymously.

When giving feedback, please evaluate the contribution of the teacher, your own contribution, the contributions of other students and the possible contribution of the Department office to the success of the course.