The Role of Civil Society in Social Development

The inefficiency and inadequacy of the structure of Iranian society, which is based on a rentier economy and is accompanied by a concentration of power and a large central government, is a well-known phenomenon. However, attributing all economic, cultural, and social shortcomings in Iran solely to the government or the ruling authority is not justifiable. Iranian society consists of three sectors: public, private, and the third sector or civil society, and it is natural that the other two sectors, despite their smallness and shortcomings, are more or less effective in the economic and social stability and instability. Therefore, despite emphasizing the role of the ruling authority in the emergence of problems, the contribution of the non-governmental sector of the economy and society, the private sector, and civil society in Iran to the emergence of social and economic deficiencies cannot be overlooked. Like other societies, Iranian society is composed of three sectors: public, private, and the third sector or civil society. In one of the latest branches of economics, namely social economy, it is emphasized that citizens, through their participation in the public sphere and power, can accelerate political development and prevent the abuse of power, thus optimizing the distribution of resources such as economic, political, and knowledge resources. The public sector is a source of concentration and distribution of power and authority, and its goal is to manage the public sector. In contrast, the private sector should focus its efforts within the framework of the law and the conventional values of each society on the accumulation of wealth and profit. The third sector, which consists of grassroots and civil institutions, is active in areas that the other two sectors cannot handle. This sector symbolizes values such as human rights and citizenship, attention to the environment, children's rights, women's rights, consumer rights, equality among citizens regardless of gender, religious, racial, and ethnic affiliations, and more. Another responsibility of the grassroots sector of society is to oversee the public and private sectors. The fundamental function of this grassroots sector is to produce and distribute social capital or public trust and create social cohesion among citizens. Civil society and grassroots institutions in Iran have fundamental shortcomings, and their development faces serious obstacles from the ruling authority. However, it cannot be denied that citizens—independent of the government's will—have the ability to contribute to solving some of the economic and social deficiencies through their participation in the public sphere. The fundamental premise of this understanding is that many of the functions and roles currently held by the government can be transferred to grassroots institutions or civil society, thus reducing the state's and public sector's responsibilities. Examples of such transfers include professional associations, charities, and support for children, women, the environment, etc. This transfer of responsibility and participation is not necessarily formal but occurs informally, thereby gradually limiting the government's operational domain. Such a process can help foster solidarity and public participation while simultaneously acting as a barrier to the concentration and abuse of power. Economic and social reforms that occur within the framework of expanding and strengthening civil society, according to many experts, are deeper, more sustainable, and broader reforms than those imposed from above by state power centers. The costs of such gradual reforms are also lower compared to other options, making them preferable. In the process of the emergence and evolution of grassroots institutions and civil associations, each citizen is like a stem cell in a social development process. Citizens transform themselves through participation in grassroots institutions or civil society, leaving social marginalization behind and becoming dynamic citizens—citizens engaged in social affairs. These transformations, although slow and hidden in the early stages, will eventually overflow into the formal arena and rapidly change the public space. Dynamic citizenship, combined with two other concepts—civil society and social capital—can pave the way for a new cycle of development, namely inclusive and people-centered development (as opposed to merely economic and state-centered development). International studies indicate that sustainable economic development is correlated with the development of civil society.