Civil Society - Traditions and perspectives. Historical sources on a contemporary concept

The project will provide a critical selection of texts on the development of civil society as a central idea and concept from the Scottish enlightenment to the revolution in East Europe in the late 1980ths. It ties historical sources to contemporary controversies. What are the origins of the concept of civil society? What equivalent terms can be considered? What changes and traditions did occur in the use of the concept of civil society in the last 250 years? What are the advantages and disadvantages in using such a controversial term in analysing society, politics and culture? These are questions that will be examined in this project. A source book will be published in 2006.