Civil society in Canada: A case study of rural and urban planning contexts

This paper explores the political concept of civil society and its emergence in multi-level rural and urban planning contexts. The first section conceptualizes civil society in the broader context within which it develops and we discuss global civil society to establish the need for a more local and regional focus. We then present considerations for assessing civil society and outline the research approach. The second section presents two case examples: (1) rural civil society in British Columbia, Canada focusing on the socio-political environment that enabled a shift away from conventional top-down, state-led forest management to devolved local control, and; (2) urban civil society in Waterloo Region, Ontario, which illustrates the response of local organizations to the wider socio-economic problems of housing provision in the Region. In both rural and urban contexts, there was longstanding tacit local support for each cause but significant triggers were needed to open policy windows and enable civil society organizations to help shift management ideologies in the forestry and housing sectors. Empowering civil actors through, for example, the devolution of decision making and responsibilities, and the redistribution of resources, helped to foster forms of legitimacy needed for emerging local and regional civil society organizations and networks.

► We conceptualize civil society and examine its emergence and legitimacy in multi-level rural and urban planning contexts.
► We develop case examples of Canadian civil society organizations and networks in the forestry and housing sectors.
► Regional and provincial level triggers were needed to open policy windows and enable civil society to shift conventional management ideologies.
► Devolving authority and redistributing resources among local actors fostered legitimacy in civil society organizations and networks.