Why Definitions Matter When Evaluating Civil Society in Jordan

This article focuses on the definitions utilized within civil society, more specifically civil society, nongovernmental organizations and non-state actors, and how the usage of the terms affects any evaluation of the sector. The discussion of these terms tries to differentiate between the realities versus the potential associated with each phrase. Then it applies the definitions of these terms to Jordan looking specifically at an article entitled “Mapping Study of Non-state Actors in Jordan”. This is followed by a discussion of how civil society operates in Jordan and how the definitions of the terms are inadequate for purposes of evaluation. Finally there will be questions for future research.