"Debates about the historical origins and character of civil society have become increasingly complex. The consequence is that empirical analyses of a wide variety of cases are required more than ever to develop plausible new generalisations about civil society and its prospects, especially amidst the contradictions arising from a neoliberalised world, which vary in their manifestations according to specific contexts. This is the important service that is provided by this important collection of essays. Together, they constitute a much-needed intervention into discussions that too often begin with wildly differing assumptions." — Professor Vedi R. Hadiz, Director and Professor of Asian Studies, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia, and Author of Localising Power in Post-Authoritarian Indonesia
