Civil Society in Authoritarian Regimes
The role of civil society in promoting social accountability in authoritarian regimes and the ways donors can support them
Abstract
This rapid review synthesises findings from rigorous academic, practitioner, and policy references on the role of civil society in promoting social accountability in authoritarian regimes and the ways donors can support them.
The main geographic focus of this report is East Africa, with a secondary focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. In the African context civil society is best defined as 鈥榓 public sphere of formal or informal, collective activity autonomous from but recognizing the legitimate existence of the state鈥� (Orvis, 2001: 20). Whereas social accountability is best defined as 鈥榓n approach towards building accountability that relies on civic engagement, i.e., in which it is ordinary citizens and/or civil society organizations who participate directly or indirectly in exacting accountability鈥� (Malena, Forster and Singh, 2004: 1).
K4D helpdesk reports provide summaries of current research, evidence and lessons learned. This report was commissioned by the UK Department for International Development.
Citation
O鈥橠riscoll, D. (2018). Civil Society in Authoritarian Regimes. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies
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