Teaching Comparative

Teaching about Civil Society

Want to teach about civil society? How about an example from outside of the AP curriculum?

Clip this article from the New York Times, save it for the next time you want to introduce the concept of civil society.

Assign it to your students and then ask them to define "civil society" as used in the article.

Next, divide the class into six groups and assign each group the task of reading through a textbook chapter on one of the six countries in the AP curriculum and finding examples of civil society described in the textbook.

Finally, in a discussion, do a preliminary chart of aspects of civil society in each country as described in the textbook AND speculate on what is probably missing in the textbook descriptions (so you all know what to look for later).

Here's the article:

Iraqi Charities Plant Seed of Civil Society

"BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 22 — In the wave of lawlessness and frantic self-interest that has washed over this war-weary nation, small acts of pure altruism often go unnoticed...

"But the Iraqi government has been taking note of such good works, and now, more than three years after the American invasion, the outlines of a nascent civil society are taking shape.

"Since 2003 the government has registered 5,000 private organizations, including charities, human rights groups, medical assistance agencies and literacy projects. Officials estimate that an additional 7,000 groups are working unofficially. The efforts show that even as violence and sectarian hatred tear Iraq's mixed cities apart, a growing number of Iraqis are trying to bring them together. 'Iraqis were thirsty for such experiences,' said Khadija Tuma, director of the office in the Ministry of Civil Society Affairs that now works with the private aid groups. 'It was as if they already had it inside themselves...'

"The burst of public-spiritedness comes after long decades of muzzled community life under Sadaam Hussein, when drab Soviet-style committees for youth, women and industrialists were the only community groups permitted.

"Mr. Hussein stamped out what had been a vibrant public life. Since the founding of Islam in the seventh century, charity has had a special place in its societies. As far back as the 19th century, religious leaders, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, formed a network called Al Ashraf that was a link between people and the Ottoman-appointed governor of Baghdad...

"Not all groups are a force for good. [It is] estimated that nearly 10 percent of the registered groups were involved in guerrilla activities and other crime.

"One was funneling aid to fighters in the volatile town of Falluja, she said, and the government shut it down. Another was running a ring that sold Iraqi children into slavery abroad..."



Najat al-Saiedi, right, delivering clothing for children in the Shoala neighborhood in Baghdad. She founded a group called Bilad al Rafidain — or Mesopotamian — Orphan Relief.

posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:06 AM