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civil society

Essays tagged “civil society”. Follow an idea across the archive.

Essays on civil society

2 essays

Jul 24, 2026ACX

Your Book Review: Breakdown In Pakistan

This review of Masooda Bano's 'Breakdown in Pakistan' examines how Western aid systematically destroys the capacity of local voluntary organizations to mobilize collective action, replacing diverse community-driven institutions with professionalized NGOs dependent on foreign funding.

49 min read 7,544 words

Sep 18, 2025ACX

Defining Defending Democracy: Contra The Election Winner Argument

Scott explains why true democracy requires more than just winning elections - it needs a complex system of checks and balances to ensure future elections remain fair and free.

10 min read 1,403 words

authoritarianism checks and balances civil society