Selected aspects of political-geographic study of the democratic civil society

Abstract

The paper focuses on political-geographical aspects of civil society and on the issues of politically engaged non-governmental organisations and civic initiatives in the Czech geographical community. It outlines the complex nature of civil society and different attitudes of researchers towards civil society and its political practice. Spatial aspects of civil society are pointed out, including the concepts of social capital and democracy. The importance of (liberal parliamentary) democracy is stressed, as well as aspects of deliberative and participatory democracy with a “vibrant” civil society. Further research should focus on the geographic factors of conflicts among civil society, state and business.