CIVIL SOCIETY IN A MIDDLE‐INCOME COUNTRY: EVOLUTIONS AND CHALLENGES IN INDIA

Abstract

AbstractIn 2008, India met the $1005 level of gross national income per capita, the World Bank's threshold to qualify as middle‐income country. Other major countries have followed a similar trajectory, the consequence being that most poor now live in middle‐income countries. The evolution, and the economic situation in many donor countries, has prompted a debate about how best to focus efforts of poverty alleviation. The historic roles of civil society, state actors and foreign donors are increasingly questioned in this new context. This study provides insights into the changing role of civil society in middle‐income countries by presenting views from India. It uses the findings of 35 interviews with academics, members of civil society, donors and representatives of the corporate sector. How do they describe the evolution of social and economic issues? How are interactions between major stakeholders such as the government, the corporate sector and civil society changing? Does the role of civil society change in the current context, and what are the challenges for civil society? With donors phasing out, how will civil society be affected? Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.