10 things CiviL soCiety Can do 


to help create an enabling environment for 
transition to democracy and market economy 

It was the emergence of civil society associated 
with mass protest movements that precipitated the 

fall of communism in the 1980s. However, by the early 
1990s civil society in Central and Eastern Europe had 
to transform from a largely informal protest movement 
to an organised sector taking its proper place within the 
economy and society. The civil society (or 3rd Sector) 
had to be defined anew and its role with respect to both 
government and business clarified. The growing number 
and variety of local or community civic groups, special 
interest organizations, free trade unions, church groups, 
independent funders and voluntarism during the 1990s 
helped mobilise public support for far-reaching democratic 
and economic reforms and helped mitigate their social 
costs. Civil society came of age in mobilising public 
support for accession of Central and Eastern European 
countries to the European Union and for joining the NATO 
security alliance in the late 1990s. Leaders in civil society 
can contribute to collaborative development in a number 
of ways including: 

1. 
Focusing on companies, industry sectors and issues 
that have the greatest potential to further specific 
social, economic or environmental objectives. 
2. 
Ensuring that there is clarity and commitment in 
terms of their own organisation’s social responsibility, 
integrity, transparency and accountability and 
commitment to democratic practice. 
3. 
Investing in understanding the real power dynamics – 
both constraints and strengths – of the company / 
industry sector, and relevant regulatory / policy 
arrangements so as to identify key areas of leverage. 
4. 
Committing to giving ‘credit where credit is due’ 
when companies and governments make genuine 
efforts to improve performance but not exclusively 
focusing on the ‘first-movers’, thereby creating a 
problem for other companies to move into the space. 
5. 
Collaborating where possible on setting corporate 
accountability standards and on mobilising resources 
(skills and technology as well as money) to met social 
and / or environmental objectives. 
6. 
Engaging in dialogue and consultation with 
companies and government agencies on public 
policy issues and projects of mutual interest – 
preferably on a regular and ongoing basis. 
7. 
Educating the public on market economy and 
responsible business issues through the media, 
internet and other awareness-raising campaigns. 
8. 
Becoming a corporate shareholder and participating 
in shareholder resolutions. 
9. 
Considering the creative potential for 
demonstrations and consumer boycott campaigns, 
always with responsibility towards public safety, 
transparency and long-term economic, social and 
environmental benefit. 
10. 
Considering the potential for law suits only where 
other tactics are not effective or when serious social, 
economic or environmental abuses have occurred. 
‘the development of 
the creative industries 

is not just important 

for the city’s culture 
and image, it is also a 
key economic mission 

for St. Petersburg.’ 

Dmitry Milkov 

St. Petersburg Jazz Festival