Civil society, crisis, and change : towards a theoretical framework
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Date
Authors
Fioramonti, Lorenzo
Thümler, Ekkehard
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
This concluding essay frames the actual and potential role of civil society actors in
terms of institutional theory, complemented by Gramscian thought. Global finance is conceived as
an institutionalized field in need of structural change triggered by institutional entrepreneurs.
Reviewing the nature of problems, it becomes clear that only a wide—if probably quite loose—
coalition of different actors will effect the necessary profound change. However, no such
coalition is in view today. Issues related to power, wealth, and ideology are put forward as a
possible explanation. We then explore the relevance of Gramsci’s theory of the ‘modern prince’as
a challenger of ‘cultural hegemony’ for a response to these problems. We suppose that civil
society actors have a fair chance to accomplish societal reconstruction, provided that they step
up the effort in a more coordinated way and take into account the inevitable conflict it will generate.
Description
Keywords
Economic crisis, Civil society, Institutional theory, Institutional entrepreneurship, Cultural hegemony
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Lorenzo Fioramonti & Ekkehard Thümler (2013) Civil Society, Crisis,and Change: Towards a Theoretical Framework, Journal of Civil Society, 9:2, 225-232, DOI:10.1080/17448689.2013.788938.