Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Journal, Vol.5, No.1, 2013 i 
ISSN: 1837-5391;  http://utsescholarship.lib.uts.edu.au/epress/journals/index.php/mcs 
CCS Journal is published under the auspices of UTSePress, Sydney, Australia 

Issues in Civil Society in a Cosmopolitan World 

 
The papers in this issue of the Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Journal explore the theme of 

civil society, community organisations and national governments in a wide and varied range 

of social and political contexts. The papers document and explore diverse roles taken by civil 

society in different conditions and circumstances in a number of geographic locations. The 

first two papers deal with displacement and the increase in this problem that will occur due to 

climate change. Displacement is difficult not only for those who have to relocate and it is 

likely to be a challenging process for all involved, including national governments and civil 

society. A range of other difficult issues are addressed by the other papers in the issue, 

including combatting child sex-trafficking, rebuilding a post-genocide society and building 

social capital among Turkish women with low socio-economic status. Each paper highlights 

the different roles civil society can play in these diverse situations to improve the well-being 

of vulnerable people and communities.  

 

The first paper, by Vinnitta Patricia Mosby, presents a methodology useful in exploring 

issues facing the indigenous people of the Torres Strait Islands. A culture and civilisation that 

has survived on these islands, which are located at the northern tip of eastern Australia, for 

thousands of years is now being threatened by adverse effects of climate change, particularly 

rising sea levels. Migration from the islands is not new; however, the rate of displacement is 

likely to continue to increase. The research methodology shows the importance to other 

islanders displaced by climate change of staying connected to self, family and culture as they 

move from their island. 

 

Continuing the theme of environmental migration, Gil Marvel P.Tabucanon’s paper explores 

the role the ASEAN countries could take to assist the vulnerable Pacific populations facing 

the possibility of relocation. The paper also explores the emerging issue of environmental 

refugees and the response to this issues in various countries, both within ASEAN and 

elsewhere. These are challenging issues which will become even more severe as global 

temperatures and sea levels rise.  

 



ii  Cosmopolitan Civil Societies Journal, Vol.5, No.1, 2013 

The third paper explores people movement of different kind. Deanna Davy’s research focuses 

on the role of transnational anti-trafficking advocacy networks in combatting child sex 

trafficking in the Greater Mekong Subregion. It uses cosmopolitan globalisation theory to 

explore the active role taken by civil society to counter global social problems, such as 

trafficking. 

 

The recovery from the extreme social problem of the genocide in Rwanda is the focus of 

paper by Gerise Herndon and Shirley Randell. It focuses on the roles of civil society 

organizations in rebuilding the country following the trauma of the 1994 genocide. It 

examines the role of women in Rwandan social and political life, where they represent 56% 

of the members of the Parliament. This high level of political representation, however, has 

not translated to women’s empowerment in other parts of Rwandan society. The reasons for 

this and how the obstacles to gender equality might be overcome are explored in the paper.  

 

The final paper continues the focus on women, however, in a completely different context. 

Gizem Arat, Arzu Icağasıoğlu-Çoban and Gonca Polat examine the factors contributing to the 

formation of social capital among Turkish women with low socio-economic status through 

community centres in Ankara. Both the Rwandan and Turkish paper show the important role 

women play in the maintenance and development of strong communities.  

 

The five papers provide new perspectives within these different contexts on the emerging and 

changing role of civil society around the world. It plays an important role in migration, 

combatting global problems and assisting women develop their communities. We are sure 

that these papers will make a useful contribution to the knowledge of civil society and the 

Journal would welcome further scholarly contributions in these and other areas related to 

cosmopolitan civil societies across the globe.  

  
 

Dr Ian McGregor 
Sydney 

March 2013 
 


	Issues in Civil Society in a Cosmopolitan World