CONTENTS: Introduction, Michael Edwards -- The History of Civil Society Ideas, John Ehrenberg ; Part 2. The Forms of Civil Society -- The Non-Profit Sector, Steven R. Smith -- Development NGOs, Alan Fowler -- Grassroots Associations, Frances Kunreuther -- Social Movements, Donatella Della Porta and Mario Diani -- Social Enterprise and Social Entrepreneurs, Alex Nicholls -- Global Civil Society, Lisa Jordan ; Part 3. Geographical Perspectives -- Civil Society in the United States, Theda Skocpol -- Civil Society in Latin America, Evelina Dagnino -- Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe, Marc Morje Howard -- Civil Society in the Middle East, Eberhard Kienle -- Civil Society in China, Jude Howell -- Civil Society in India, Neera Chandhoke ; 15. Civil Society in Sub-Saharan Africa, Ebenezer Obadare ; Part 4. The Norms of Civil Society -- Civil Society and Social Capital, Michael Woolcock ; 17. Civil and Uncivil Society, Clifford Bob -- Civil Society and Civility, Nina Eliasoph -- Civil Society and Equality, Sally Kohn -- Civil Society and Diversity, Hilde Coffe and Catherine Bolzendahl -- Civil Society and Religion, Donald E. Miller -- Civil Society and Spirituality, Claudia Horwitz ; Part 5. The Spaces of Civil Society -- Civil Society and Government, Nancy L. Rosenblum and Charles H.T. Lesch -- Civil Society and Civil Liberties, Mark Sidel -- Civil Society and the Public Sphere, Craig Calhoun -- Civil Society and Public Work, Harry C. Boyte -- Civil Society in the Digital Age, Roberta G. Lentz -- Civil Society and Public Journalism, Charles Lewis -- Civic Knowledge, Peter Levine ; Part 6. The Achievements of Civil Society -- Civil Society and Democracy, Mark E. Warren ; 31. Civil Society and Poverty, Solava Ibrahim and David Hulme -- Civil Society and Peace, Jenny Pearce -- Civil Society and Power, John Gaventa -- Civil Society and the Market, Simon Zadek ; Part 7. Supporting Civil Society -- Civil Society and Institutional Philanthropy, William A. Schambra and Krista L. Shaffer -- Civil Society and Grassroots Philanthropy, G. Albert Ruesga -- Assisting Civil Society and Promoting Democracy, Omar G. Encarnacion -- Conclusion, Michael Edwards.

Includes bibliographical references and index

Broadly speaking, The Oxford Handbook of Civil Society views the topic of civil society through three prisms: as a part of society (voluntary associations), as a kind of society (marked out by certain social norms), and as a space for citizen action and engagement (the public square or sphere).