The Assault on Civil Society

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Across the globe, I see civil society under siege. This is not by accident, but by deliberate authoritarian design. What is happening is a calculated, ideologically bankrupt attempt to redefine “development” in ways that silence dissent, crush grassroots voices, and turn civil society organizations (CSOs) into tools of state control. And it’s working.

What do I mean by “development”?
In this context, development refers to the organized efforts by governments, international institutions, and/or private actors to improve infrastructure, economic growth, and social conditions. However, under authoritarian regimes, this concept is often stripped of its democratic and human-centered foundations. Instead of fostering equity, inclusion, and participation, “development” becomes a tool for control: technocratic, extractive, and top-down.

Why Authoritarians Fear Civil Society

Civil society is dangerous to authoritarian rule because it represents something that in its true form can’t be coerced, bought, or easily manipulated: people power. Note that people power is a key element of a democratic nation. At its core, civil society challenges the monopoly of the state by offering:

Alternative sources of legitimacy
Independent information and narratives
Mechanisms for accountability and transparency
Community-based solutions outside state or market
A culture of pluralism, care, and participatory governance

These are the exact things that make authoritarians nervous. They rely on conformity, central control, and manufactured consent. Anything that encourages people to think critically, act collectively, or speak out is a threat.

That’s why CSOs face such intense attacks.

The Right-Wing Playbook: Co-opt, Discredit, Destroy

From Latin America to Eastern Europe and South Asia, the same authoritarian script repeats:

Accuse independent CSOs of being “foreign agents” or “anti-national”
Flood the space with fake, state-aligned NGOs to confuse the public
Defund, de-register, or legally harass real grassroots organizations
Push out international donors and restrict transnational collaboration
Control narratives by delegitimizing civil society in media and education

This is more than censorship. It is ideological warfare. It is a battle over who gets to define what counts as legitimate public action. Right-wing actors increasingly twist civil society’s language of participation and empowerment into hollow slogans for authoritarian ends.

Authoritarian “Development” Is a Lie

In this environment, the idea of “development” has become deeply compromised. Rather than centering human rights, dignity, or sustainability, authoritarian development prioritizes:

Infrastructure without consultation
Growth without redistribution
Order without justice
Silence over participation

What remains is a hollow model with shiny roads, data dashboards, and PR campaigns masking deepening inequality, political repression, and social fragmentation. The near perfect Machiavellian strategy.

This is ideologically vacant development. It has no vision beyond control and consumption. It systematically excludes the voices of those most affected by poverty, discrimination, and environmental destruction. The people who CSOs often represent.

The Consequences: Distrust and Demobilization

When CSOs are slandered, silenced, or co-opted, the consequences go far beyond the organizations themselves. Public trust erodes. People grow cynical or afraid to engage. Communities lose vital lifelines of support, advocacy, and representation.

Worse still, the very idea of collective action becomes suspect. If every NGO is seen as corrupt or compromised, then who can be trusted? That is the long-term goal of authoritarianism: not just to silence voices, but to make people believe there’s no point in speaking at all.

This Cannot Be Allowed to Continue

The struggle for civic space is the struggle for democracy itself. Civil society is not perfect, but it remains one of the last counterweights to unchecked power (which is even more important now that the free and independent press is less and less free or independent). If authoritarian regimes are allowed to redefine development on their own terms, the result is not only the loss of NGOs, but also the loss of participation, transparency, and justice.

This is not merely a policy debate. It is a fight over who shapes the future. It is a fight worth paying attention to.

If you’ve read this far, you already know what’s at stake. For anyone who believes in human rights, equity, sustainability, or democracy, defending civil society isn’t optional. It is a necessity.

So don’t just agree. Act. Fund grassroots organizations. Speak up when civil society is attacked. Call out the authoritarian narratives that seek to undermine truth and trust.

Join a CSO. March when it matters. Use your critical thinking skills, your networks, your voice and talent.

Because in the end, defending civil society is defending our own dignity and future.