EIRP Proceedings, Vol 4 (2009)

Abstract

The consolidation and development of the lawful state cannot be accomplished without an active and functional civil society. A functional civil society is the basis of democracy, because a
democracy in which the individuals cannot express their opinions and organize in different kinds of organizations cannot be considered a democracy. Within the totalitarian states, the existence of a civil society cannot be conceived, as the individual's freedom is constrained. In the present context, the reality of Europe's liberal democracies is that they are in a strong governmental deadlock, cause by the existence of a political system in which there isn't an active civil society or at least a civil society that does not accept inequalities and government injustice. A corrupt society has at the other pole a weak civil society. The civil society's role is to monitor and get involved in the corruption issues, being part of the systems of national integrity. The society's welfare in general is reduced in the long run to the citizen's role, at an
individual level. The ideal citizen must show an interest and participate in the political life, express his point of view and get actively involved in the community's life, helping his neighbours and collaborating
with the others.