The relationship between magyarization and Hungarian civil society during the reform era of Hungarian history (1790-1848) is the subject of this dissertation. This thesis examines the cultural and political activities of three liberal oppositional nobles: András Fáy (1786-1864), István Bezerédj (1796-1856) and Ödön Beöthy (1796-1854). These three men were chosen as the basis of this study because of their commitment to a two-pronged approach to politics: they advocated greater cultural magyarization in the multiethnic Hungarian Kingdom and campaigned to extend the protection of the Hungarian constitution to segments of the non-aristocratic portion of the Hungarian population. I argue that magyarization and civil society were closely connected: magyarization unfolded within the confines of civil society, and civil society was meant to guarantee that magyarization would leave room for cultural homogeneity. I locate the success and ambivalence of Fáy, Bezerédj and Beöthy’s efforts to shape Hungarian civil society not in the peculiar mixture of liberal and national elements that characterized their political campaigns, including their magyarization impulses, but in their social position as Magyar nobles transforming a multiethnic and socially-stratified Hungarian population. On a more subtle level, the fact that these three men based their reform efforts on grass-roots transformation and on the interconnectedness between the capital centres and the counties is also a central concern of this thesis. / History

<p>This study attempted to examine the role that selected civil society groups played to promote citizen participation in governance processes.</p>

This thesis will use three case studies to test the existing research on civil society and authoritarian regimes. By using concrete data from Putin’s previous decade in Russia, the post-Mubarak government’s control over transitional Egypt, and the Hun Sen regime in Cambodia, this thesis is an attempt to analyze under what conditions will authoritarian governments not only create, but enforce controls and restrictions against their NGO communities. This thesis expands O’donnell & Schmiiter’s existing theory: Government policy makers will increase restrictions when NGOs and civil society represent too strong of a threat, to include both real and perceived threats. Unfortunately, this thesis cannot conclude on the true power of NGOs, however one does not need to answer this question to examine why governments restrict them.

This study investigates the emergence of civil society in China. The existence and sustainability of civil society in China has bearing on the countrys further economic, political and social development. Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, this study employs secondary statistical data as well as individual and focus groups interviews to address the emergence of civil society and intellectuals in China. The position of this paper is that Chinese civil society has developed in fits and starts since the beginning of economic liberalization in 1978. This contributed to changes in the political and social spheres, allowing more autonomous bodies to grow out of society as well as state structures, and facilitating the emergence of Chinese civil society. Intellectuals in particular have been able to exercise their autonomy in the Chinese policy process, influencing the direction of state policy towards their own interests, and consequently strengthening the public sphere and civil society.<p> Chinese civil society is punctuated by the influence of the historical, cultural, and political factors that constitute the form of its institutions, organizations and associations, as well as how these social actors communicate in the public sphere. It differs from that generally found in western countries. Unlike the west, it does not exist in opposition to the state. Instead, Chinese institutions of civil society also exist at the interstices between state and society and across them as well. This entwining entanglement of civil society with the state is indicative of the specific social, political, economic, and cultural conditions that have contributed to its development.<p> As it continues to emerge, Chinese civil society is increasingly becoming a sphere of identity formation, social integration, and cultural reproduction.

This thesis examines the Fair Trade movement as an international response of civil society to improve basic labor rights for producers. It explains the development of the Fair Trade movement and gives an overview of the organizations that currently comprise the movement. It also highlights some of the contemporary challenges the movement faces. The paper then provides a review of the literature written on global civil society insomuch as it is relevant to the Fair Trade movement. From this information, the paper draws conclusions about the success of the movement achieving its goals in light of its challenges. The paper concludes that the movement has admirable goals, but lacks good implementations and suffers from both undemocratic practice and inadequate representation. Lastly, it suggests policy changes to improve the effectiveness of the movement.

This study investigates the emergence of civil society in China. The existence and sustainability of civil society in China has bearing on the countrys further economic, political and social development. Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, this study employs secondary statistical data as well as individual and focus groups interviews to address the emergence of civil society and intellectuals in China. The position of this paper is that Chinese civil society has developed in fits and starts since the beginning of economic liberalization in 1978. This contributed to changes in the political and social spheres, allowing more autonomous bodies to grow out of society as well as state structures, and facilitating the emergence of Chinese civil society. Intellectuals in particular have been able to exercise their autonomy in the Chinese policy process, influencing the direction of state policy towards their own interests, and consequently strengthening the public sphere and civil society.<p> Chinese civil society is punctuated by the influence of the historical, cultural, and political factors that constitute the form of its institutions, organizations and associations, as well as how these social actors communicate in the public sphere. It differs from that generally found in western countries. Unlike the west, it does not exist in opposition to the state. Instead, Chinese institutions of civil society also exist at the interstices between state and society and across them as well. This entwining entanglement of civil society with the state is indicative of the specific social, political, economic, and cultural conditions that have contributed to its development.<p> As it continues to emerge, Chinese civil society is increasingly becoming a sphere of identity formation, social integration, and cultural reproduction.

Things will change from time to time, but human being is the main constituent forever. The principal of existence and development of any social community will be carried out with the awareness of individual ideology and the fulfillment of the community determination, especially depend on the adaptability and transformation that step forward with the elapse of time. Bad adaptability or improper transformation will be difficult to transfer the traditions into modernization, the result will be either underdevelopment or dead with deformity, both of which can hardly have a satisfaction accomplishment. The purpose of this article is to explore how Taiwan adapt to the trend of modernization as a typical Confucian community, and how the members of the community form the consensuses to fully grasp the opportunity of adaptation and transformation to set up a brand new ¡§Confucianism Civil Society¡¨. The dissertation construct with five chapters as follows: Chapter I is introduction for the main concerns of the research, the extent of the research, writing structure, and a thorough analysis of the core ideal of philosophy of Confucian community. Chapter II describes the figure of Confucian traditional community to investigate into its merits and demerits according to the writing structure of the Chapter Da Tong in the Book of Rites. Chapter III examines the real conditions in Taiwan during the powerful governmental era under Martial Law by means of three mainstream ideologies from the western liberalism. Chapter IV observes that disorders are increasing in Taiwan area due to the conflict between Eastern and Western ideology after the removal of Martial Law in Taiwan from a view of communitarianism. Reflection upon the above-mentioned, the author looks forward to rebuild a main stream culture and value ideology which integrate Eastern and Western, penetrate traditional and modern, and connect modern and post-modern. In conclusion with the statements of the Eastern and Western sages, Chapter V outlines the mechanism of ¡§Confucianism Civil Society¡¨ out of the expectation of the author.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-Radboud University, Nijmegen, 2008. / With title page and summary in Dutch. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Notre Dame, 2004. / Thesis directed by David Soloman and Paul J. Weithman for the Department of Philosophy. "January 2004." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 312-314).