Welcome to the M.A (Civil Society Studies)

The Department of Civil Society Studies was established in 2021 by enlarging department of NGO Studies which had been established in 2000. The principal aim of the department of Civil Society Studies is to educate students about the issues related with civil society. “Civil society” is one of the most important concepts in the social sciences today and a key policy agenda among policymakers and practitioners. It refers to the collection of social organizations and groups which are distinct from, yet interact with, the government and the market. As many point out, apart from being a watchdog of government and business, a vibrant civil society is an important social partner for good governance.
Civil societies in the contemporary world encounter many difficult issues, including global pandemic, development, the aftermath of global financial crises, information technology revolutions, climate change, and questions related to democracy and human rights at local, national, and global levels. The study of civil society and its key players, civil society organizations, is at the forefront of multidisciplinary academic debates on complex and interconnected issues.
In the Civil Society Studies program, students learn about the relationships between academic debates and the everyday practices and policies of civil society and civil society organizations(CSOs). The Civil Society Studies program seeks to develop strong domestic and international networks that combine theory and practice. To achieve these goals, the Civil Society Studies program provides students with a wide variety of subjects, ranging from managerial skills for CSOs to cooperation among civil society, government, and international organizations for better governance.