Active Citizenship Research Articles

Education for citizenship as a scientific problem

The Russian society is characterized by the process of forming a new system for educating the younger generation, the core of which is the development of an active citizenship position. The global geopolitical situation poses a whole range of tasks for the education system related to the development of new content of education based on deepening civil law education. Therefore, recently in domestic Pedagogy a certain strategic guideline has emerged for studying issues of civic-patriotic education of the younger generation.The problem of the research is to substantiate the features of education for citizenship in modern scientific and pedagogical research. Solving this problem is the goal of our research.The methodological basis of the research is based on socio-pedagogical concepts of civic education, the use of scientific methods (theoretical analysis of scientific literature, normative documents, products of teachers’ activities; descriptions; interpretation; generalizations).The research results: conceptual models of citizenship in some countries have been described; the essence of the phenomenon «Russian patriotism» has been revealed; aspects of citizenship education in modern pedagogical discourse have been outlined.Key conclusions: 1) in the scientific literature, four models of citizenship have been revealed: American, British, German and Russian; 2) the core of the concept of «citizenship» is the presence among citizens of a particular country of a number of personal qualities as personal results of educational activities; 3) the pedagogical content of citizenship is associated with the justification of this term as a subject of educational activity; highlighting the totality of civic qualities as personal results of educational activities; creation of a nurturing educational environment; teachers’ possession of the necessary competencies that allow them to carry out this work

The Russian war in Ukraine increased Ukrainian language use on social media

The use of language is innately political, often a vehicle of cultural identity and the basis for nation building. Here, we examine language choice and tweeting activity of Ukrainian citizens based on 4,453,341 geo-tagged tweets from 62,712 users before and during the Russian war in Ukraine, from January 2020 to October 2022. Using statistical models, we disentangle sample effects, arising from the in- and outflux of users on Twitter (now X), from behavioural effects, arising from behavioural changes of the users. We observe a steady shift from the Russian language towards Ukrainian already before the war, which drastically speeds up with its outbreak. We attribute these shifts in large part to users’ behavioural changes. Notably, our analysis shows that more than half of the Russian-tweeting users switch towards Ukrainian with the Russian invasion. We interpret these findings as users’ conscious choice towards a more Ukrainian (online) identity and self-definition of being Ukrainian.

Cocoa and compliance: How exemptions made mass expulsion in Ghana

ABSTRACT ‘Mass expulsion’ was rarely so ‘mass’ in its application. It was often enforced through exceptions as much as the rule, through the ad-hoc actions of individual citizens and migrants, as much as by the executive branches of independence-era governments. On November 18, 1969, Kofi Abrefa Busia, the newly elected Prime Minister of Ghana, issued the Aliens Compliance Order, requiring all undocumented immigrants, those without valid residence permits, to leave the nation within fourteen days. Since mass expulsion orders are enacted by decrees such as Busia’s, they are overwhelmingly analyzed as tool of executive authority. But this analytical glossing lends too much authority to the state’s executive branch, overlooking the role of West African peoples’ thoughts, expressions, and interpretations in the process of mass expulsion. Petitions for exemptions to the expulsion order in Ghana’s cocoa industry, the nation’s leading export crop, reveal how various segments of the Ghanaian government (cabinet ministers, union leaders, and members of regional security councils) and society (Ghanaian chiefs, farm owners, and alien laborers) pried open the Order’s contradictions to shape both the targets of expulsion and the ad-hoc means by which it was carried out. Mass expulsion was a relational process; not a singular event but an iterative renegotiation of political mobilities. This article turns our attention, more broadly, to how diverse members of African societies at independence shaped ‘state’ policies as well as the meaning and measure of African citizenship.

“My goal is to make sustainability mainstream”: emerging visual narratives on the environmental crisis on Instagram

IntroductionIn the face of the current climate crisis, environmental communication can contribute to providing new frames of understanding and promoting social change and positive citizen action. Through social media, on platforms like Instagram, concerned citizens embrace environmental communication activism ultimately reshaping the narratives regarding the climate crisis. These individuals, who we identify as both activists and environmental influencers, are challenging the established media narratives with their posts and stories, thus offering alternative narratives. Accordingly, this paper aims to elaborate an incipient characterization of a communicative agenda that includes the emerging elements of these visual narratives in social media as potentially able to engage citizens to take action in their ordinary lives.MethodsOur research draws on a qualitative methodological approach, based on: (1) a digital ethnography carried out on 60 Instagram accounts devoted to the dissemination of environmental concerns and contents, (2) a visual narrative analysis of 281 selected posts of the previous accounts, and (3) 14 in-depth interviews conducted with digital activists.ResultsWe have identified the main traits of these emerging visual narratives: the use of positive visuals and content; first-person accounts highlighting the small actions and achievements (propositive narratives) that can be carried out in our daily lives; and/or the use of memes, humor, and other elements of popular culture to make the environmental cause mainstream.DiscussionThe study underscores a notable divergence between established environmental narratives and those curated by eco-influencers on social media. These influencers strategically leverage emotionally resonant, positive visual narratives, departing from fear-inducing content. They emphasize individual actions and solutions rather than collective interventions, personalizing the climate crisis. Additionally, their narratives engage in a nuanced dialogue with nature and integrate popular culture, humor, and memes to effectively reach diverse audiences. This shift reflects a broader cultural change in communication strategies, signaling a novel approach to mobilize audiences toward environmental engagement.

Erich Fromm: Clinical Mountain Guide

ABSTRACT Each psychoanalytic theory influences the clinician’s focus. This paper examines the impact of Erich Fromm’s writing on the analyst’s attention to the material in sessions. Briefly, Fromm’s work highlights the importance of the analyst’s passion, courage, pursuit of truth, capacity to bear uncertainty and suffering, and dedication to helping people embrace their freedom and realize their full potential. Fromm has inspired generations of clinicians to become politically active citizens, maintain enlivening curiosity, and kindle the life force in themselves and those they treat. What role does theory play in the moment-by-moment behavior of the analyst in a session? I first address the general question of my view of the role of theory in clinical work. Then I turn to the more specific issue of Fromm’s influence.

Remembering The Sane Society: An American Lament

ABSTRACT Erich Fromm’s book The Sane Society was published in 1955, the second year of President’s Eisenhower’s administration, but had a profound impact on the ideas and agendas of social activists during the 60s and 70s, including this author. Its central theses were that the middle-class prosperity characteristic of that era masked a “pathology of normalcy,” and that capitalism transforms active citizens into passive consumers by compelling people to fill their material needs in ways that are at variance with their existential or human needs. The result is a dramatic diminution of their critical faculties, an atrophy of conscience, and the proliferation of a “marketing character,” a kind of alienated, hedonistic lifestyle whose emptiness is palliated by the consumption of ever larger quantities of consumer goods. Fromm’s analysis still rings true in some respects, but the middle-class prosperity and bland uniformity of opinion he critiqued began to wane in the late 1970s, gradually giving way to sharp extremes of poverty and wealth. The resulting political polarization has now reached a critical point, where the future of American democracy – or what little is left of it – is now in peril. So, as we approach 2025, Fromm’s analysis of America in the mid-20th century must be updated and modified to fit the contours of contemporary social realities. In so doing, however, we discover that American society is even more alienated, more atomized and fragile than it was in Fromm’s day.

CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOUR AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A REVIEW OF EXTANT LITERATURE

The study examined the between citizenship behaviour and organizational performance using a review of an extant literature. The specific objectives were to: examine the relationship between altruism and organizational performance; assess the relationship between conscientiousness and organizational performance; and ascertain the relationship between courtesy and organizational performance. The research made us of extant literature from various authors, the study revealed that altruism, conscientiousness and courtesy have positive relationships with organizational performance. The study concludes that that organisational citizenship activities increase organization’s performance, it is crucial to comprehend the processes that underlie these behaviours. The study advised that organisations should encourage employees to adopt good citizenship practises in order to foster a sense of commitment among staff members. Employees' desire to contribute can be sparked by psychological attachment, thus the company should instill a sense of ownership in them.
 Keywords: Citizenship Behaviou Altruism, Conscientiousness, Courtesy and Organizational
 Performance.

ENGAGING COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA: EVALUATING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE EXPROPRIATION OF LAND WITHOUT COMPENSATION BILL

The post-1994 era in the South African public imagination was envisaged to herald widespread and transformative efforts to reverse the gross injustices and human rights violations inflicted over many decades of apartheid and colonialism. One of the key measures initiated by the democratic government to drive this nation building project was the land reform programme. The ‘land question’, which is a popular tagline in South Africa when reference is made to land reform, has come to define the general discourse of socioeconomic disadvantage and change in the post-apartheid and post-colonial period – similarly to other former settler colonies in the African continent and the broader Global South. For South Africa though, this specific issue has been characterised by numerous challenges and failures largely at the level of the state, wherein a significant lack of public engagement, public participation and democratic redistribution was not being done according to ‘the will of the people’. On several occasions, the South African state has gone on a ‘solo crusade’ to implement the land reform programme under complex conditions that are largely unfavoured by ordinary people ‘on the ground’ – especially those who were the primary victims of land dispossession under colonialism and apartheid. As a result, over the past few years, indigenous black communities across the country especially in (semi)urban and township areas have voluntarily ‘occupied’ land at their own will and sometimes ‘illegally’, to take up settlement space and determine their lives on the land of their birth. Beyond the public discourse of ‘land invasions’ and ‘failed land reform projects’, this study was conducted to closely understand the extent to which public engagement and participation has been integral in the systematic mechanism(s) to transform the patterns of land ownership and control in the democratic South Africa. To do this, the site of KwaZakhele, Silvertown, in Port Elizabeth was selected to conduct the study. Methodologically, qualitative semi-structured interviews were utilised to conduct the study and the Marxist Concept of Citizenship was selected as a theoretical framework for the study by the researcher. The study has found that, amongst the general legislative and political shortfalls of public participation breakdown, there are other deep seated structural socioeconomic issues that are at the root of the problem – such as economic inequalities and very low prospects of social mobility – which collectively reproduce the persistent inadequacies of political instability and social unrest in the area. The study recommends an astute combination of ‘bottom-up’ active citizenship and major socioeconomic transformation in the area as a systematic and structural mechanism to empower the community of Silvertown to be the champion of its own liberation struggle for the freedom of its people to own land and democratically participate in their own governance, self-determination, and prosperity.

Городской вид как культурная ценность

The article analyzes cityscapes from the point of view of their value for the formation and preservation of the spatial and temporal unity of the cultural landscape of the historical city. The author distinguishes between cityscapes (urban views) as images of any urban location or composition and cityscapes (urban views) as configurations of architectural and other material spaces that we can observe in a real urban environment. The cityscape is defined in this article as a freely perceived, “readable” architectural urban composition, having high artistic significance and “supporting” the surrounding urban tissue, being the most important factor in the activity of citizens and guests of the city, and is also “responsible” for a specific identity urban space as a whole. A cityscape usually consists of several spatial patterns. The space of a traditional Russian city is formed as a system of urban views that reveal both its geographical design and its sacred semantics. Damage (destruction) of one or more cityscapes leads to degradation of the urban environment as a whole. The author defines the main reasons for the destruction of cityscapes and determines the consequences of these processes. The author concludes that cityscapes (urban views), as spatial structures that form the supporting frame of the visual environment, are fundamental part of the entire culture structure called ‘the city’. The system of urban views carries a number of integration functions: logistic, aesthetic, semiotic, local-historical, cultural-identification, social. The system of cityscapes directly reveals the specifics of the city. The preservation of cityscapes as fundamental pillars of the urban environment and as cultural heritage values ensures the actuality of the historical past, the spatialtemporal unity of an identical urban environment, and also instills in citizens a sense of belonging to their city, which exists only in a ‘long time’ of culture.

Active Citizenship as an Integrating Axis between Health in All Policies and the Well-being Economy

The persistence of social inequities has affected the quality of life of the population in many countries for a long time. To counteract this situation, multinational agencies have proposed several political/technical alternatives among which Health in All Policies and the Well-being Economy stand out; in which the interaction of various sectors together with society at large is crucial to achieve the goals set in all areas. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of some of the main enablers that bring the two initiatives together, emphasising the active participation of citizens as a support for achieving the social justice and sustainable development goals of governments. In the research, we used an interpretative synthesis method in three phases: an exploration of the empirical work supporting Health in All Policies and its connection to Wellbeing Economy; a study of the theory of community social capital as a basis for building inclusive community participation; and finally, we analysed the fundamental elements that enable population groups, particularly the most vulnerable, to share power in making decisions that concern them according to their real and felt needs and problems. The results lead us to conclude that it is necessary for governments to privilege citizen power as a convergent strategic axis to strengthen their own institutions, both in the design and implementation of actions undertaken in the effort to mitigate social inequities through Health in All Policies and Well-being Economy

Teacher Perceptions on the Possibility of Integrating History and Citizenship in the Lesotho Curriculum: A Case of Three Secondary Schools

One of the key contemporary needs in education is to promote nationalism and national cohesion. Challenges confronting most developing countries include political instability, violence, voter apathy, and youth disintegration. Many regard the teaching of citizenship as a possible panacea to remedy these problems. Scholars have applauded the role of citizenship education in inculcating crucial values such as active citizenship, tolerance, and social cohesion. The Lesotho curriculum uses social science subjects, especially history, to address these challenges. Pursuant to repeated calls for the integration of history with citizenship in Lesotho schools in order to enhance history's thrust in achieving the task, this qualitative study adopted the case study design to purposively sample six history teachers, two from each of three secondary schools in the Maseru district. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis of the Education Sector Plan 2005-2015 and Education Sector Strategic Plan 2016-2026, Curriculum and Assessment Policy (CAP) 2009, Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE), and the Grade 8 Social Science Syllabus were relied upon for the collection of data. Our findings from this study show that teachers believe that the integration of history and citizenship can instil values of active citizenship, patriotism, political stability, and economic development to mention but a few. We therefore concluded that there are possibilities of integrating history with citizenship instead of leaving them as subjects independent from each other. We recommend that the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) should consider the integration ofhistory and citizenship into the curriculum.

ОСВІТНІ ІНДИКАТОРИ РІВНЯ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕНОСТІ ВЧИТЕЛЯМИ ОСВІТНЬОЇ ГАЛУЗІ ПІД ЧАС ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙНИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ: МІЖНАРОДНИЙ І ВІТЧИЗНЯНИЙ КОНТЕКСТИ

The article analyses the ongoing transformation processes in the education sector, both internationally and domestically, within the context of the European educational space. It has been determined that these processes are based on the key competencies that teachers should develop in their students. These competencies include literacy, multilingualism, scientific and engineering skills, digital and technological competencies, interpersonal skills, the ability to acquire new knowledge, active citizenship, entrepreneurship, and cultural awareness. The sources of educational indicators are considered, including PISA studies, Eurostat, OECD educational indicators, and national educational indicator systems. This article examines the implementation of the New Ukrainian School (NUS) reform in relation to teacher provision. It discusses the PISA study, which provides data on the quality of education by assessing pupils' ability to apply the knowledge, competencies, and skills acquired in educational institutions in everyday life. The results of this international comparative study can inform governments' educational policies and management decisions based on evidence-based statistics. The authors analysed the implementation of the NUS reform in the educational sector, focusing on domestic transformations. The aim of the reform is to provide teachers with the necessary tools to improve their professional level, self-motivation, and develop new competences. The study compared OECD indicators with national education indicators, including teachers leaving the profession, pupil-teacher ratio, and class size.

Мотиваційні пріоритети у вихованні почуття національної самосвідомості учнів, студентів і курсантів засобами бойового хортингу

The article focuses on the priority tasks of the research topic, including increase of motivation for physical culture lessons, physical education and sports, development of a sense of national identity of schoolchildren, university students and cadets by means of combat horting, popularisation and preservation of national traditions and values of Ukrainians. The authors provide an analysis and synthesis of the concepts of ‘motivation’, ‘national identity’, identify motivational priorities, conduct a survey and provide recommendations for developing a sense of national identity in schoolchildren, university students and cadets, including as follows: 1. Patriotism and love for the Motherland (respect for national symbols and traditions, competitors and coaches; preservation of cultural heritage. 2. Formation of national identity and self-awareness (sense of belonging: horting promotes a sense of belonging to the nation, emphasising the originality and uniqueness of Ukrainian culture; pride in national achievements: participation in competitions and victories in international arenas creates a sense of pride in one's country. 3. Development of civic consciousness: active citizenship: Young people involved in horting often participate in social projects and volunteer initiatives, which promotes active citizenship. 4. Responsibility for the society: horting activities develop a sense of responsibility for the safety and well-being of their community and country as a whole. 5. Personal development and self-improvement: training willpower and self-discipline: Regular training contributes to the development of willpower, selfdiscipline and perseverance. 6. Developing leadership skills: Horting develops leadership skills, the ability to make decisions and lead others. 7. Social integration and cohesion: development of team spirit: Team training and competitions contribute to the development of skills of cooperation, mutual support and team spirit. 8. Social support and mutual help: Participants in a horting club often support each other not only during training, but also in everyday life, forming strong social bonds. 9. Physical health and safety: Improving health: Regular physical activity improves the health of young people, contributing to a healthy lifestyle. 10. Self-defence skills: Horting teaches young people self-defence skills that increase their self-confidence and safety in everyday life.

Summer coworking as an element of a comfortable urban environment

The paper deals with the problems of improvement and the creation of a comfortable urban environment. An initiative youth project is an idea of creating a summer coworking on the territory of the Ural Federal University in Ekaterinburg. Here, the University can take responsibility for designing the urban environment and involving urban communities in the development of the city. The article presents the concept of creating a creative open space for work and leisure that will unite citizens, as well as raise the issue of using collaborative design in creating a comfortable urban environment. The author’s developments in creating a unique social object-a summer coworking – are presented. Based on real urban practices and the role of the University as a driver of regional development, the authors of the project plan to create a place for open and trusting inter-social communication between representatives of government, business, public associations, and active citizens. The possibilities of points of growth and development of the formed space were also considered. The implementation of the presented project will improve and improve the territory of the city of Ekaterinburg.

К вопросу экологического сознания населения Хабаровского края

The paper presents the relevance of environmental problems in modern society. In particular, the urgent environmental crises of the Khabarovsk Territory are analyzed. The study considers the pollution of the shores of all water bodies of the region and adjacent water areas with household garbage. The paper provides information on the measures taken by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Khabarovsk Territory to form ecological awareness of the population. An overview of the quantitative indicators of the campaign «Water of Russia» for three years in the Khabarovsk Territory is provided. The paper also includes other environmental actions carried out within the framework of the regional Eco-marathon. We are also talking about the fact that environmental safety is one of the five subsystems included in the national security system of the Russian Federation. The need to turn public consciousness towards environmental friendliness is justified, the level of consciousness being characterized by high responsibility for actions concerning the environment. Different approaches to the concept of «ecological consciousness» are considered, clarifying the meaning of the term. The indicator of the formation of ecological consciousness is the participation of citizens in eco-volunteer activities. The authors believe that constant work can help to form environmentally responsible public consciousness. The study is feasible in an educational, scientific, campaigning and business environment. It is important to provide information support and promotion of eco-volunteer actions, as well as stimulating and encouraging events. The apper uses methods of analysis, synthesis, systematization, generalization. In conclusion, voluntary environmental public associations create the basis for the formation of sustainable environmental awareness, not only among young people, but also in the professional sphere.

SENIOR CITIZENS’ COUNCILS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE IN POLAND

The aim of the article is to present senior citizens’ councils in Poland in the context of the functions they fulfil in the design and implementation of public policies at the local level. The article presents the results of a pilot study on the activities of municipal senior citizens’ councils in Poland. The theoretical background for the conducted research is public governance as a process of making decisions on activities relevant to local communities. In this approach, the governance method was used to extend the catalogue of actors involved in this process. Senior citizens’ councils are institutionalised advisory, consultative and initiative bodies involved in the governance process.

Modeling the Student Leadership, Citizenship, and Democratisation in Islamic University in Malaysia

This study is to analyse the impact of student leadership and citizenship on the process of democratisation in Islamic universities in Malaysia. The necessity to comprehend the complex character of student leadership, particularly its manifestation at Islamic universities, is underscored by the global reports on this matter. Inquiries regarding citizenship and democracy present difficulties, highlighting the intricate nature of the issue. The intricacies of how leadership is seen, its influence on results, and the promotion of engaged citizenship introduce further complexities. It is essential to comprehend the correlation between leadership, citizenship, and outcomes, while also considering the ethical aspects. This study examines the concepts of student leadership, citizenship, and democratisation within a specific setting. It utilises a survey that includes 593 individuals randomly selected from three institutions in Malaysia. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS, which involved performing descriptive, correlation, reliability, and regression analyses. These studies yielded useful insights into the relationships between variables. Ultimately, this study investigates the concepts of student leadership, citizenship, and democratisation within the specific environment under examination. By employing a survey design that incorporates a substantial sample size, the methodology guarantees reliable and strong conclusions. Descriptive data demonstrate favourable attitudes, whereas regression analysis highlights the substantial impact of citizenship and student leadership on predicting democratisation. The internal consistency is enhanced by a high level of reliability. These insights emphasise the significance of citizenship in influencing the process of democratisation, providing vital direction for educators to foster active and democratic citizenship among students.

ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЕ ПРАВОСЛАВИЕ И СЕКУЛЯРНОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО: ПРОБЛЕМЫ СОВМЕСТИМОСТИ

The article deals with the issues of the religion politicization in a secular society on the example of Orthodox radical activism. The growth of conservative political attitudes among active Orthodox citizens is analyzed as a reaction to the acceleration of the secularization process of Russian society, which creates a threat of marginalization of religious identity. The influence of Western European Christian fundamentalists on the Russian communities of Orthodox radicals is noted. There is a relationship between the spread of radical conservative ideas and values in modern Russian society and catastrophic socio-political changes after the collapse of the USSR, which were accompanied by serious transformations of the collective (national) identity. The article studies specifics of the new nationalreligious identity, formed by modern mass media with extensive borrowings from the legacy of Russian conservative philosophy of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Particular attention is paid to the “roots” of modern Orthodox activism, its close connection with Russian nationalism and international anti-globalism. The collision of the values of a secular society with its cult of freedom and anticlerical attitudes with a conservative-religious picture of the world, in which conspiracy theories and the rejection of liberal ideas play a significant role, is considered by the authors of the article as a result of the collapse of the former socio-political system, where atheism and communist ideology were the main semantic dominants in society.

WEALTH ASSESSMENT. COMPREHENSIVE INHERITANCE ANALYSIS: PERSPECTIVES AND TOOLS OF INHERITANCE

The development of public legal awareness and the growth of the welfare of the population has led modern society to the need for hereditary planning. Awareness of the widespread use of this process is the exception rather than the rule. In this article, the author defines the need to resolve the issues of planning the transition of the formed family capital in the order of inheritance from one generation to another. The result of this study is a systematic analysis of the necessary actions of citizens to achieve the predicted result of the will of the testator.

Civil society movement in the protection of the peat ecosystem of Meranti Islands, Riau – Indonesia

In a country’s democratic system, the existence of Civil Society Organizations is indispensable. Civil Society Organizations are sociopolitical institutions that can be used by the community to channel their goals and demands to influence or even shape government policy. In this scenario, Civil Society Organizations can be viewed in two ways, namely sectoral groups and regional groups. Both Groups aim to persuade the government to address issues of public interest in a timely manner. In addition to persuasion, civil society organizations can also carry out advocacy and even file lawsuits against the Government and companies for ecosystem damage. Regarding the issue of peat ecosystem damage, this issue has become a serious issue for the Indonesian government in the last two decades. Damage to peat ecosystems due to illegal encroachment, exploitation for the benefit of plantation companies and brutal conversions have damaged peat ecosystems in Indonesia. Cases of forest and land fires in the last two decades show that management of peat ecosystems is not carried out wisely, the majority of peatland fires occur within company concession areas and very few are due to community activities. Cases of forest and land fires are the most troubling phenomena, especially in Riau this issue even stretches to become a national and transnational issue when the impact of forest and land fires disrupts the activities of citizens of other countries (Singapore and Malaysia). This study analyzes the Meranti Islands civil society movement in protecting the peat ecosystem in the Meranti Islands, in particular, the case of damage to the Meranti Islands peat ecosystem is no longer a secret and needs serious attention from all parties. Various literature suggests that the civil society movement has become a steep road when dealing with authoritarian governments, but after Suharto, this movement has actually become a political force to influence and shape government policy. Likewise with the Meranti Islands civil society movement in efforts to protect the peat ecosystem.