International Journal of Sociology Civics Research

Civil Society as a Catalyst for Mitigating VUCA World Spillovers- A Strategic Significance Framework for Developing Countries

El Habib Choubani¹, Mohamed Buheji²

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Abstract

This paper examines the critical role of civil society in developing countries navigating volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. Drawing on a comprehensive historical-philosophical analysis of civil society as a political phenomenon centered on "human political needs," the paper argues that civil society's normative essence provides a foundational framework for governance transformation in conditions of uncertainty. The analysis establishes that effective civil society engagement in VUCA contexts requires institutionalizing the three existential individual political needs—free political contracting, participatory decision-making, and rational limitation of authority—and translating them into five collective societal political needs. This framework positions civil society as a mediating force between citizens and state institutions, essential for building governance resilience and legitimacy. The paper integrates insights from the Inspiration Economy paradigm, demonstrating how "Inspiration Labs" and purpose-driven institutional frameworks can transform VUCA challenges into opportunities for sustainable community development. Drawing on the concept of "engineering strategic significance" amidst transformation and uncertainty, the paper argues that civil society must address not only institutional capacity but also the crisis of meaning that pervades governance in turbulent times. Through a mixed-methods analysis of cases from Tunisia, South Africa, Rwanda, and the Gulf Cooperation Council region, the paper illustrates how these principles can be applied in diverse contexts while revealing the challenges of implementation. The paper concludes that sustainable governance advantage in a VUCA world lies not in possessing static institutional resources but in cultivating a continuous capacity for inspired exploration, adaptive regeneration, and the creation of shared meaning that aligns citizens and institutions around common purposes.

Keywords: Civil SocietyVUCA WorldGood GovernanceInspiration EconomyDeveloping CountriesPolitical NeedsStrategic SignificanceInstitutional ResilienceParticipatory GovernanceSocial Capital

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Licensed under CC BY 4.0.