Learning Objectives
What can civil society and the media do for parliament?

After studying this unit you should be able to:

• Appreciate how civil society can help parliament perform its accountability function;

• Understand the role that the media plays in aiding the flow of information required to keep decision-making accountable;

• Identify what parliament can do to help the free flow of information.

Introduction

Civil society is the network of organized, self-governing and autonomous organizations operating at the national, regional and international levels.  Civil society groups can take the form of trade unions, environmental groups, women’s groups, human rights organizations, religious organizations, the media, professional associations and community-based organizations.  Unlike parliamentarians, civil society organizations often do not have a direct mandate to speak on behalf of the people whose interests they seek to represent, but rather on behalf of an organizational mission. These organizations are often viewed by the executive and parliament as hostile because they are often critical of government. 

Conflict arises between groups because of misunderstandings, ideological differences, ignorance or the lack of credible information on which conclusions are drawn by decision-makers.  As such, it is beneficial for parliament to encourage the development of a healthy and robust civil society with which it can establish a dialogue in order to build trust and improve the flow of information between parliament and groups in society so as to overcome any misunderstandings.  Particularly in less developed countries direct engagement between parliamentarians and their constituencies is often hampered by limited financial resources, the distance between the capital and their constituencies, and poor transport and communications.  By turning to civil society and the media, parliamentarians can help overcome many of the barriers that would normally inhibit their ability to engage with their constituents.