Revitalizing Democracy

This study examines the impact of devolution on civil society during the Assembly's first term with a particular focus on civil society's contribution to enhancing democracy and the interrelationship between civil society and national identity. With regards to the latter, it assesses whether devolution shifts organisations to develop a stronger Welsh outlook as Welsh civil society organisations as opposed to civil society in Wales organisations that operate in a more British terms of reference and whether civil society contributes to promoting a stronger civic sense of national identity. The study achieves its aims through fulfilling three objectives. First, it develops an empirical understanding of civil society post-devolution through case study based research. Second, it informs the empirical examination with a theoretical framework that defines civil society and discusses the relationship between civil society and democracy and the interrelationship between civil society and national identity. Third, it strengthens the study's findings through establishing a comparative perspective on civil society organisations prior and post-devolution. The major empirical contribution is the case study based research and its analysis of the impact of devolution on civil society, with specific attention to democratic development and national identity. In addition, as a theoretical framework informs the research, it contributes to bridging between theory and empirically-grounded research on civil society. As a result, the study informs the theoretical literature and raises wider implications for civil society theory.