Civil society is one of the most talked about, but difficult concepts to define. Yet it has captured the imagination of intellectuals and political activists alike. In the post-cold war era there has been a tremendous optimism about the re-emergence of civil society in many countries. However, the promises of change have not always borne fruit. This volume examines the idea of civil society in its historical and contemporary dimensions. As a collection, it provides a clear, comprehensive and critical mapping of the idea, the burden of expectation that it has carried, and the intellectual and political dimensions that surround it. The major themes covered include the concept of civil society itself, its relation to the state on the one hand and political economy on the other, and the violence of civil society as well as the possibilities it provides for resistance to injustice.