8.3 Civil Society and Volunteering

The space in between

Not everything in a democracy happens through government. Between the state on one side and the individual on the other, there is a rich and busy landscape of organisations, groups and movements that we call civil society. From charities and faith groups to sports clubs and volunteer organisations, this is where much of the real work of building and holding together a community actually takes place.

This chapter explores that in-between space: what civil society is and why it matters for democracy, the role of NGOs and charities in English-speaking countries, how volunteering strengthens both communities and individuals, and the debates about the relationship between civil society and the state. The picture that emerges is of a vital but sometimes overlooked layer of democratic life -- one that depends, fundamentally, on ordinary people choosing to participate.

Civil society and the people who give their time

Civil society refers to the wide range of organisations, groups and associations that operate in the space between the government and the private sector: charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, religious groups, community organisations, professional associations and advocacy groups. A healthy civil society is considered essential for a functioning democracy because it provides channels for citizens to organise, express their views and hold power to account -- it is a place where collective action happens outside formal politics. A vivid example is the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, one of the world's largest humanitarian organisations, operating in virtually every country: the British Red Cross provides emergency response and supports refugees, the American Red Cross runs the nation's largest blood-donation programme and provides disaster relief, and the Australian Red Cross helps during bushfires and floods. Tellingly, the Red Cross relies on over 17 million volunteers globally, showing how civil society depends on ordinary people choosing to participate.

This brings us to the heart of civil society: volunteering, the act of freely giving your time and effort to help others or contribute to a cause without expecting financial payment in return. Volunteering takes countless forms -- helping at a food bank, coaching a youth football team, mentoring at-risk young people, contributing to disaster relief -- and research consistently shows it benefits both the volunteer, through improved mental health, new skills and social connections, and the wider community. The tradition runs deep across English-speaking countries, though its scale and nature vary. The UK has around 16 million regular volunteers and over 160,000 registered charities; Americans volunteer roughly 7.9 billion hours a year, with strong faith-based traditions and structured programmes like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps; nearly half of all Canadians volunteer, with many schools requiring volunteer hours for graduation; and over 5 million Australians volunteer, with rural fire services in Victoria relying almost entirely on volunteers. In every case, volunteering is the engine that keeps civil society running.

Why it matters, and the debate over philanthropy

Volunteering is not just about doing good deeds; it plays a crucial role in democracy itself. It builds social capital -- the networks of trust and connection between people that enable cooperation. It gives citizens hands-on experience with collective action. It helps communities address their own problems without depending entirely on government. And it creates a sense of shared responsibility and belonging that strengthens the social fabric. In this sense, the food bank and the sports club are not separate from democracy but part of its foundation, teaching the habits of cooperation and trust on which self-government depends.

There is also a genuine debate worth presenting fairly, especially around philanthropy -- the giving of large sums of money to charitable causes, which plays a significant role in civil society, particularly in the United States. Billionaires like Bill Gates, MacKenzie Scott and Warren Buffett have donated billions to education, health and poverty reduction. The arguments in favour are real: philanthropy funds important research and programmes, can respond to needs more quickly than government, and reflects personal freedom and generosity. But the arguments against are equally serious: philanthropy can give wealthy individuals too much influence over public priorities, tax deductions for donations reduce government revenue, it can undermine democratic decision-making by letting unelected individuals decide how to spend billions, and it may not address the root causes of inequality. This debate is important because it raises a fundamental question about democracy: who should decide how resources are allocated -- elected representatives accountable to voters, or wealthy donors accountable to no one? There is no easy answer, and presenting both sides fairly is part of thinking clearly about the proper relationship between civil society, wealth and democratic government.

In short

Civil society is the space between government and the individual, filled with charities, NGOs, community groups and volunteers, and a healthy civil society is essential to democracy because it lets citizens organise, express views and hold power to account. Volunteering is its engine, benefiting both volunteers and communities and running deep across English-speaking countries, from the UK's 16 million volunteers to America's billions of volunteer hours. Volunteering also builds social capital -- the trust and connection that strengthen democracy itself. The role of philanthropy is genuinely debated, with fair arguments on both sides about whether large private giving funds vital work or gives the wealthy too much influence -- a debate that raises the deep question of who should decide how a democracy's resources are allocated.