Aportes desde la sociología cultural al estudio de las asociaciones cívicas: de la sociedad civil a la esfera civil

Abstract

This article describes the contributions done to the analysis of civic associations in democratic political communities by the discussions on civil sphere -term coined in the field of cultural sociology. Regardless the emphasis on the autonomy principle, attached to the traditional debate related to civil society, this new discussion highlights the idea of solidarity. It opens an alternative conceptual frame, where the actions of the civic associations are explained by cultural structures, key to de achievement of ideals regarding fraternity, well-being, and social inclusion (all of them critical to the democratic life). This essay works with secondary sources of information that offer an introduction to this relevant topic.