标题：Concept and Conception of Civil Society in Western and Islamic Traditions: A Comparative Analysis of Secular and Islamic Faith-based Civil Society Practitioners in Pakistan and Bangladesh
摘要：The present paper attempts to explore diversity of the concept of civil society inthe Western (secular) and Islamic (faith-based) traditions. This paper reviewsand discusses the major ideas, which have informed historical andcontemporary debates about civil society in the West and in the world of Islam.The present paper is part of first author’s PhD research project, “The Role ofCivil-Society Organisations in Poverty Alleviation: A Comparative Study ofFaith-Based and Secular Local, National and Global Organisations in Pakistanand Bangladesh”. The study is based on a combination of secondary sourcesand qualitative, face-to-face interviews with the representatives of secular andfaith-based civic-society organisations in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Theconcept of civil society is embedded in diverse socio-political traditions of theWestern and Islamic world. In Western and Islamic traditions there is diversityin the understanding of the concept of civil society; it has a variety ofenvisioned functions or roles, and alternative requirements for a wellfunctioningcivil society. Both the Islamic and Western civil society ideas andpractices promote the ‘good or well-being’ of people. However, Islamic faithbasedcivil society practitioners view well-being in terms of religious obligationswith more focus upon spiritual happiness and salvation after death; whileWestern civil society traditions rest on enlightenment and modern intellectualtraditions and individualism.
关键词：Civil Society; Faith-based Civil Society Organisations; Secular;Civil Society Organisations; Pakistan; Bangladesh.
