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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
A Maturing Civil Society In China? The Role Of Knowledge And Professionalization In The Development Of Ngos, Jennifer Yj Hsu, Reza Hasmath
A Maturing Civil Society In China? The Role Of Knowledge And Professionalization In The Development Of Ngos, Jennifer Yj Hsu, Reza Hasmath
Reza Hasmath
From Undemocratic To Democratic Civil Society: Japan's Volunteer Fire Departments, Mary Alice Haddad
From Undemocratic To Democratic Civil Society: Japan's Volunteer Fire Departments, Mary Alice Haddad
Mary Alice Haddad
How do undemocratic civic organizations become compatible with democratic civil society? How do local organizations merge older patriarchal, hierarchical values and practices with newer more egalitarian, democratic ones? This article tells the story of how volunteer fire departments have done this in Japan. Their transformation from centralized war instrument of an authoritarian regime to local community safety organization of a full-fledged democracy did not happen overnight. A slow process of demographic and value changes helped the organization adjust to more democratic social values and practices. The way in which this organization made the transition offers important lessons for emerging democracies …