Relations between Civil Society and The State in Rentier Systems: An Analytical Sociological Reading
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65421/jshd.v1i2.20Keywords:
Civil society, Rentier state, Rentier systems, Civic space, Civic independence, Political participation, Oil rentiers, Social structures, Libya, Iraq, Gulf States, Economic transformations, State-civil society relationshipAbstract
This study aims to analyze the relationship between civil society and the state in rentier states, focusing on the impact of the rentier economic structure on the independence and effectiveness of civil society. The study is based on a comparison of three main models: the Gulf States, Libya, and Iraq, to illustrate the differences in the nature of this relationship according to the size of the rent, the state's capacity for control, and the nature of the social and political structures.
The results show that civil society in rentier states is often limited in its independence and represents a functional extension of the state. Most organizations rely on government funding and are subject to legal and administrative oversight, which restricts their role in political and social participation. Conversely, state weakness or economic transformations in some cases, such as in Libya before and after 2011, have allowed civil society a relative margin to operate, although it remains fragile and fragmented. The comparison of the three countries also shows that the Gulf States possess a high capacity to control civil society, while Libya has experienced limited opportunities for effectiveness, and in Iraq, civil society has been extremely weak as a result of conflicts and the collapse of state institutions. The study confirms that the size of rentierism, resource distribution, state power, and the nature of social and political structures are the main determinants of civil society's independence and effectiveness. It also shows that economic transformations affect this relationship, as they may provide temporary opportunities to expand civic space. Accordingly, the study recommends diversifying funding sources for civil society, strengthening the independent legal and institutional framework, developing human and professional capacities, and effectively involving civil society in decision-making. This should be coupled with promoting a culture of participation and civic rights to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of civil society in rentier states
