Civil society Quote by Condoleezza Rice
“One of the signs that things are going reasonably well for democracy is that we have the states where they're closer to the people. Federalism is a strength. We have all of these civil society institutions - civil society is a very important hallmark of democracy.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Democratic Governance Forum, 2015
Strong federalism and civil society indicate a healthy democracy, keeping power close to people.
In simple terms: Local institutions show democracy is working.
Key Takeaway
Support local institutions and civic engagement.
Themes
democracy
federalism
civil society
Mood
optimistic
concerned
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- local elections
- community groups
- policy debates
Key Concepts
political theory
institutional strength
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens strengthen local institutions?
- What risks arise from weak civil society?
A Different Perspective
Centralization can erode local responsiveness.
![“[I'm] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do.” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/600/condoleezza-rice-807_blessed_i-m-very-fortunate-and-blessed-person-wh_88385.jpg)
![“I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility. Part of the problem is that this is an expensive game [golf]. I know in a couple of places where there are black members, and they come from pretty much the…” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/21a/condoleezza-rice-807_accessibility_i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientis_121021.jpg)
![“The social [media channel] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection, and community. That's what there's too little of in today's mediascape, despite all the hoopla surrounding social tools. The promise…” quote by Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c85/umair-haque-25881_beauty_the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-bea_1270.jpg)
![“[T]here are, at bottom, basically two ways to order social affairs, Coercively, through the mechanisms of the state - what we can call political society. And voluntarily, through the private interaction of individuals and associations - what we can call civil society. ... In a civil society, you…” quote by Ed Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b8b/ed-crane-39299_affair_t-here-are-at-bottom-basically-two-ways_34431.jpg)
