INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL SOCIETY 2.0

This chapter introduces the main themes of our book and explains why civic activism in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) should be regarded by scholars, practitioners, and students of social science as a vital component in the developments taking place in this region. After clarifying a few crucial terms, we present our central argument that civil society in CEE is diverse, dynamic, and consequential, despite current “hard times.” We also provide an explanation for the unique method we used in this book, which highlights interviews, testimonials, and stories of a selected group of activists from five countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine). By highlighting scholars’ responses to questions about civil society and civic activism in the region, we provide a theoretical and historical foundation for understanding the recent civic activism we depict in the book’s chapters. The aim of this chapter is to explain our interest in and approach to civic activism, to provide context for our questions and answers, and to explain the book’s contributions.