Received 29.08.2025, Revised 12.12.2025, Accepted 29.12.2025

THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESSES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MODELS AND PRACTICES

А. Smutko

This research examines the role of civil society in democratization processes across different countries. Foreign and domestic publications were analyzed, three main approaches to understanding civil society were identified, and a comparative analysis of citizens’ participation models and practices in political and social life was conducted. It was established that the specificity of civil society formation is determined by the historical, cultural, and institutional conditions of particular countries. Three key stages of interaction between civil society and state authorities in democratization were identified: liberalization of an authoritarian regime, institutionalization of democracy, and strengthening of democratic institutions. The research demonstrates the absence of a direct linear correlation between the strength of civil society and the level of democratic development of the state. The conclusion substantiates the impossibility of creating a single universal model of civil society applicable to all countries.

 

political regimes, power transformation, social engagement, institutional factors, international models, state accountability, democratic values, civic activism, political liberalization, civil organizations
173-179
Smutko, А. (2025). THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESSES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MODELS AND PRACTICES. Bulletin of the Bishkek State University, 23(4), 173-179. https://doi.org/10.35254/bsu/2025.74.27

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