Does Civil Society Always Positively Influence Democratisation?

소개

"Does Civil Society Always Positively Influence Democratisation?"에 대한 내용입니다.

목차

1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background and the Concept of Civil Society
3. Similarities Between Germany and Japan
4. Differences Between Germany and Japan: Contexts Behind Policy Outcomes
5. Conclusion and Implications

본문내용

- Abstract -

This essay analyzes the contrasting nuclear energy policy outcomes of Germany and Japan following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, focusing on the role of civil society and its contributions to democratic decision-making. Both nations experienced strong anti-nuclear movements; however, Germany successfully implemented a nuclear phase-out policy, while Japan opted to restart its reactors. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Habermas's public sphere theory, Olson's collective action theory, and Putnam's concept of social capital, this study examines why civil society does not always contribute to democratic decision-making and how political structures, economic conditions, and trust between governments and civil societies shaped these outcomes.

The analysis reveals that Germany’s decentralized governance, robust renewable energy policies, and transparent government-civil society collaboration enabled the effective translation of civil society demands into policy. In contrast, Japan’s centralized governance, economic constraints, and lack of trust restricted civil society’s influence. This highlights that civil society does not inherently guarantee democratic decision-making, as its contributions depend significantly on structural and contextual factors. For civil society to effectively contribute to democratic decision-making, conditions such as decentralized decision-making frameworks, realistic economic alternatives, and trust-building between governments and civil society are essential.

참고자료

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