Civil society as a concept is currently much discussed in the political arena and now frequently referred to in academic texts. But what does it mean in practice and how does it relate to more familiar ideas like voluntary action? This new book by a leading commentator explores the connections between the two and provides a wide range of examples of situations in which civil society has provided an arena for voluntary association and action which has had a real impact on events at local, national and, latterly, the global level.