CIVICUS Global Survey of the State of Civil Society: Volume 1, V. Finn Heinrich (ed.). The CIVICUS Global Survey of the State of Civil Society: Volume 1 is the result of rigorous self-examination by civil society actors around the world. By featuring the civil society profiles of 44 countries around the world, the publication presents a detailed, yet concise description of the current state of civic activism, highlights the key strengths and weaknesses of each country’s civil society and puts forward specific recommendations to strengthen the sector’s capacity to contribute to positive social change. Indeed, the Global Survey of the State of Civil Society provides a unique contribution to the ongoing debate on civil society both empirically and conceptually. But how is something as vast and contested as civil society measured?

The Global Survey on the State of Civil Society focuses not only on measurable, short-term indicators, but also on long-term and more complex processes so often neglected in evaluations of civil society. The research results are building blocks to strengthen and safeguard civic space for people to meet and act together for a just society. This groundbreaking report was launched globally at 2007 CIVICUS’ World Assembly this May in Glasgow, Scotland. For more information, download the flyer here.

The CIVICUS Global Survey of the State of Civil Society, Vol.2: Comparative Perspectives, edited by V. Finn Heinrich and Lorenzo Fioramonti.CIVICUS has published the second volume of the CIVICUS Global Survey of the State of Civil Society which provides a wide-ranging analysis of the key issues facing civil society world wide.

Comprising of 24 chapters by prominent researchers and civil society practitioners, the book draws on the information collected by the CIVICUS Civil Society Index project in more than 45 countries to explore issues such as civil society's accountability, its relations to the state and corporate sector and its role in governance and development. It also includes regional overviews of the state of civil society in different continents. By bringing together a diversity of perspectives and themes, this book offers one of the most comprehensive and engaging analyses of civil society worldwide.

How Civil Society Influences Policy: A Comparative Analysis of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index in Post-Communist Europe (Lorenzo Fioramonti and V. Finn Heinrich) Downloadable in pdf[3.0MB]. This working paper, a collaboration between CIVICUS and ODI, presents an analysis of the policy-relevant findings of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index in a group of countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia: Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine.

CIVICUS Civil Society Index: Preliminary Findings Phase 2003-2005. Downloadable in pdf[623KB].The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) Project held the International CSI Workshop from the 19th to 21st of June, 2006 in Glasgow Scotland. The ICSI Workshop provided a forum for the CSI project partners and selected stakeholders to identify and discuss key findings of the CSI and to evaluate the CSI project phase 2003-2006. A pre-workshop paper was produced on the preliminary results of the CSI.

Sharing Lessons and Comparing the State of Civil Society in Post Communist Europe (Mahi Khallaf, Volkhart Finn Heinrich, Lorenzo Fioramonti). Downloadable in pdf[380KB] This is a post workshop paper, based on the discussions that took place at the CIVICUS Civil Society Index Regional Workshop, in Czech Republic from 5-7 April 2006.

The Role of Civil Society Organisations in Achieving Participatory Democracy and Reconciliation, (Volkhart Finn Heinrich and Mahi Khallaf) . Downloadable in pdf[135KB]. (Published 2005). This paper is based on a presentation by CIVICUS CSI staff member, Mahi Khallaf, at the International Symposium in Cyprus, 25, 26 February, 2005.

Measuring Empowerment: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, Edited by Deepa Narayan. Available for purchase. Chapter 15, CIVICUS Civil Society Index, by Carmen Malena and Volkhart Finn Heinrich.

Índice de la Sociedad Civil: Herramienta para el Fortalecimiento de la Sociedad Civil en América Latina A ser bajado en formato pdf[48KB] (Published 2005) Una descripción del Índice de la Sociedad Civil (ISC) CIVICUS en el contexto de América Latina; Escrito por Anabel Cruz y Janine Schall-Emden.

CIVICUS Civil Society Index: Assessing and Strengthening Civil Society Worldwide (Volkhart Finn Heinrich) Now available for free download in pdf [735KB]; Introduction downloadable in pdf[57 KB]. (Published March 2004) This report provides a detailed account of the project approach, conceptual and analytical framework and research methodology of the innovative CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) Project.

Civil Society–Measurement, Evaluation, Policy (Helmut Anheier) Available for purchase. (Published 2004) This book provides a comprehensive and flexible framework for the definition, measurement, analysis and interpretation of civil society based on the innovative ‘Civil Society Diamond’.

Summary of CSI Methodology and Conceptual Framework Downloadable in pdf[93KB] (Published 2003) This document presents a brief summary of the main features of the CSI’s conceptual framework and methodological approach.

Improving the Understanding and Strength of Civil Society (Volkhart Finn Heinrich) Downloadable in pdf[1KB] (Published August 2003) A briefing paper on the contribution of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index to civil society strengthening programmes worldwide.

From Impossibility to Reality (Volkhart Finn Heinrich and Kumi Naidoo) Downloadable in pdf[378KB] (Published 2001) A reflection and position paper on the CSI Pilot Phase.

Handbook on how to use the Index as a self-assessment tool (Richard Holloway) Downloadable in pdf[980KB] (Published October 2001) This is a handbook on how to use the Index as a self-assessment tool for civil society practitioners. This handbook, written by Richard Holloway in 2001, provides in-depth guidance on applying the Index project's tools to diagnose the health of civil society in your community, region or sector.

The Civil Society Diamond: A Primer (Helmut K Anheier, Lisa Carlson and contribution by Volkhart Finn Heinrich and Kumi Naidoo) Downloadable in pdf[275KB] (Published July 2001) CD Methodology for the Civil Society Diamond.

Evaluation report on the CSI pilot phase (Srilatha Batliwala) Executive Summary downloadable in pdf[92KB] (Published July 2003) Read the executive summary of the independent CSI evaluation report by the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, Harvard University.

Building knowledge about civil society, CIVICUS World Edition January-February 2001 Downloadable in pdf[1MB] (Published January-February 2001) Read the CIVICUS World edition.

Analysing threats to civil society around the world: A review of CSI country data from 2003-2007.By Sue Le-ba CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) Research Fellow. This article is downlaodable in pdf[132KB] (Published October 2008).

Taking The Pulse of Civil Society Worldwide: Insights from the CIVICUS Civil Society Index Project (2003-2007). A paper presented at the 8th conference of the International Society of Third Sector Research, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain, July 9-12 2008 by Jacob Mati.