Dissemination of Civil Society in South Asia: Introductory Considerations

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Many features in civil society in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh dates back structures developed during colonial times, and the organization of relief organizations, workers unions and political parties up to the Independence in 1947 meant that the independent governments of Pakistan and India initially had a positive attitude towards civil society organizations. These attitudes have changed due to political developments in each of the three countries, where Bangladesh became independent in 1971. On the one hand civil society organizations have changed due to the liberalization of the Keynesian state, which has changed the structure of civil society into state sponsored charities, with the added effect of suppressing many critical organizations in civil society. On the other hand, each of the countries has developed new legal frames, which have the effect of controlling these critical organizations in different ways. That regards women’s organizations as well as workers’ unions and other critical voices.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRe-Interrogating Civil Society in South Asia : Critical Perspectives from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh
EditorsPeter Birkelund Andersen, Rubya Mehdi, Amit Prakash
Number of pages17
Place of PublicationOxford and New York
PublisherRoutledge
Publication date2021
Pages1-17
Chapter1
ISBN (Print)9780815385264, 9780367754396
ISBN (Electronic)9781003162490
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Humanities - cicvil society, civil society in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, civil society and liberalization, civil society organizations, Covid-19 in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

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