DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2014.v02i03.005

Pages: 396-401

Fall of communism in the East European world during the periods of 1990s has initiated a change in the field of political analysis of the present world. Since then, the concept of civil society has regained its importance in the tradition of political thought. But, the conceptual history of civil society is not a new, rather it is deep rooted. The concept of civil society has its early manifestation in the writings of early political thinkers ranging from liberal to Marxist tradition. The present paper tries to focus on the philosophical interpretations as we discover in the writings of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Adam Ferguson, Adam Smith and Hegel. Civil society is now regarded as the best possible means for democratic transition and liberal creed. It is a space that is committed to ensure political participation and greater political accountability of the rulers to the ruled. The latest events that happened in the Arab world in 2011 and in New Delhi in the recent years in the form of anti corruption movement are the instances of a strong civil society movement with active participation of the citizens with a view to shape their institutions and policies.