Global governance — building on the civil society agenda

Civil society organisations have today acquired a new prominence as international actors. By virtue of their links to citizens and due to the extensive nature of their networks, they can now claim to give a voice to international – indeed global – public opinion. They are therefore in a unique position to address the widely perceived ‘democratic deficit’ in global governance.

This volume, which includes chapters derived from reports originally presented at the 2010 EUISS Annual Conference on the theme of civil society, examines the role of civil society actors with specific reference to the emergence of a global public sphere. It explores how civil society organisations are contributing to the global dialogue on key issues, with a particular focus on humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding and development. The book also highlights regional perspectives on the impact of civil society on governance and democratisation processes.