Towards Understanding Civil Society – Government Relationship: the study of Young Mizo Association (YMA) in Mizoram

Abstract

Today, the failure of the government has led the civil society to become active in raising the people centred developmental issues and problems. The civil society through its constituents can play a viable role. Civil society as an entity cannot be inimical to the state as it needs the support and assistance of the government. Similarly, the government will also benefit from the civil society in order to bring about a democratic and just social order. This paper makes an attempt to study YMA which is the largest voluntary developmental organisation in Mizoram and also tries to examine how YMA is seen as one important components of civil society in the context of Mizo society. This paper studies the varied roles played by YMA in the Mizo society and examine the nature of relationship that exists between government and civil society.