This course focuses on the theme of "civilýsociety" and how it relates to social capital andýparticipation in the CED policy and practiceýarena. The purpose is to locate the concept ofýcivil society in Smith, Marx and Weber, and makeýextended incursions into their respective studiesýof civil society. Armed with a familiarity withýtheir original writings, students will be able toýevaluate these references as well as draw theirýown. The course also seeks to historize theýconcept of civil society to further the analysisýof its current conceptualizations and practice.