Civic Action in the Civil Sphere ~ Conference and Book Project
For several decades, sociologists have been re-energizing inquiry into the conditions for social self-organization and solidarity.
A recent conference at Yale University addressed these crucial issues through the lenses of two prominent cultural theories: Civil Sphere Theory (CST) and Civic Action Theory (CAT). These theories, while distinct, both aim to understand and promote democratic engagement and civil solidarity. CST focuses on the macro-societal structures that support democracy, while CAT examines interactions that enable collective problem-solving. The conference, generously supported by The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale, The John Templeton Foundation, and the Center for Cultural Sociology at Yale University, explored the potential synergy between these two approaches.
Jeffrey Alexander from Yale University and Paul Lichterman from the University of Southern California delivered the introductory remarks, setting the stage for the rich discussions that followed. Highlights included Anna Lund from Stockholm University discussing collective civil action in uncivil times, and Mervyn Horgan from the University of Guelph exploring the role of sociability in civic action through the Sanctuary Runners initiative in Ireland. These were followed by Eeva Luhtakallio from the University of Helsinki, who examined the local civil sphere and civic action in Finnish tenant democracy, discussing the complexities of participative processes. Saara Liinamaa from the University of Guelph presented on migrant rights organizing in Canada, focusing on the "Status for All" campaign and its styles of solidarity. Valentina Cantori from the University of Southern California addressed inclusion from the bottom-up, analyzing the civic engagement of American Muslim advocates against anti-democratic forces. The day concluded with a dinner hosted by Jeffrey Alexander, fostering further informal discussions among participants.
The second day of the conference focused on synthesizing CST and CAT to understand and address contemporary social problems. Liv Egholm from Copenhagen Business School explored societal styles, while Zachary Hyde from the University of Toronto discussed community conflicts in urban settings. Richard Wood from the University of Southern California examined public Catholicism in civil society, and Nina Eliasoph from the University of Southern California analyzed technological tools in democratic maintenance. A paper by Nadya Jaworsky and Olga Zhmurko from Masaryk University rounded out the afternoon sessions with its focus on veterans as a new target of civic action in the Ukrainian civil sphere. The event concluded with insightful commentary by Lynette Spillman and final remarks by co-organizers Paul Lichterman and Jeffrey Alexander, who reflected on the rich exchange of ideas and the promising directions for future research. The day finished off with a banquet at the Study Hotel, where participants continued to engage in vibrant discussions, forging new collaborations and reinforcing the community of scholars dedicated to advancing the study of civic engagement and democratic resilience.
