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Research Articles
The ‘State-Society’ Myth In Civil
Society Theory:
Reconceptualizations of
Sovereignty and Power In The
Context of Minimal
State Capacity
Jon Crain
Abstract: Civil society literature presupposes a substantive amount of state
capacity, due its Eurocentric development, as well as the African
context of colonial and state repression that catalyzed the revival
of scholarly interest in civil society. It is important to examine the
relationship between society and state due to the universal acceptance
of, and lack of alternatives to, the Westphalian state system.
However, in many cases civil society literature, which seeks to delineate
the relationship between state and society (both local and
global), has been invoked to examine the development capacity of
non-state civic institutions, organizations, and efforts. By maintaining
the traditional ‘state-society’ perspective, theorists have reduced
their utility in scenarios where state capacity is extremely limited.
This article will argue that the predominant ‘state-society’ perspective
that frames civil society literature should not be utilized to examine
civic action in areas where state capacity is minimal or nonexistent.
The fractured nature of sovereignty in the globalized era
will be invoked to justify the claim that the state no longer is guaranteed
a substantial role within the African development process.
As such, civil society literature must disregard the supremacy of the
‘state-society’ perspective, in order to acknowledge the empirical
flows of power that occur (when state capacity is lacking) between
local and global civic elements, outside of the realm of state influence.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will be used as
the main exemplar, however the author holds that the theory entailed
within holds for all African regions where state capacity lacks.
Key Words: Dominican Republic of Congo, State Society, Africa
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