Book Discussion of Civil Society by Michael Edwards

Event Description

In November 2009 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which commenced the struggle to replace totalitarian regimes in Eastern and Central Europe with liberal democracies. Many claim that the emergence of a lively civil society behind the Iron Curtain was essential to this development. Thus was kicked off several years of vigorous intellectual interest in the concept of civil society, which if anything became even muddier and less helpful as the discussion went on. MICHAEL EDWARDS’ volume Civil Society, however, clarified and focused our understanding of the subject, and so the second edition, which includes not only updated information but also more of a global perspective, is a welcome addition to the debate.

On November 16, 2009, the Bradley Center hosted a discussion with Edwards, along with the Case Foundation's MICHAEL SMITH, RUTH McCAMBRIDGE of Nonprofit Quarterly, and WILLIAM DENNIS of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Bradley Center Director WILLIAM SCHAMBRA moderated the discussion.

Edwards, Schambra, McCambridge, Smith, Dennis

11:45 a.m.
Registration, lunch buffet

12:00 p.m.
Welcome by Hudson Institute's WILLIAM SCHAMBRA

12:10
Panel discussion
MICHAEL EDWARDS, author of Civil Society
RUTH McCAMBRIDGE, Nonprofit Quarterly
MICHAEL SMITH, Case Foundation
WILLIAM DENNIS, Atlas Economic Research Foundation

1:10
Question-and-answer session

2:00
Adjournment