Title: The roles of civil society organizations in enhancing grassroots democracy in Vietnam
Abstract: Following the discourse on democracy, participation and their links to civil
society, this paper aims to assess the roles of civil society organizations in
enhancing grassroots democracy in Vietnam. By contesting different theories
in the context of single-one Party and government, the research shows that the
case of grassroots democracy and civil society in Vietnam are special and far
from recent dominant views on democracy and civil society. The study argues
that grassroots democracy regulations adopted by the government is inherently
participation rather than liberal democracy which is prominent trend
nowadays. It also finds that civil society in Vietnam is still under state’s control
and monitoring, differing from traditional perception that civil society is
autonomous. Within the local democratic sphere of grassroots democracy
regulations, civil society organizations in which Mass organizations and
Vietnamese Non-governmental organizations are found distinct in relation to
state and interventions have showed their roles in dissemination, capacity
building, advocacy, facilitation to support people in realizing their participation
rights to public affairs at local level. Their roles are constrained within the
“narrow” environment with strong supervision from single-Party state and lack
of supporting mechanism to their interventions. But more importantly, the
research points out that the institution, including local government and
people’s attitude and capacity, local level political dynamics and mindsets to
understand and embrace local participation, is the pivotal conditions to ensure
effective grassroots democracy implementation. Therefore, the research
concludes that the roles of civil society organizations in enhancing grassroots
democracy will be sustained and have wider impact if they always bear in mind
this transformative and structural change.
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-12-14
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 1
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