In its focus on the relationships between civil society activity across the political spectrum, communications and democratic change, Global Civil Society 2007/8 explores how activists and organisations are exploiting the effects of globalisation to create or expand spaces for debate and discussion, often using new forms of communications, even in closed regimes such as Burma, Iran and China.

In addition to a focus on the civil society activity in illiberal regimes, this edition of the Yearbook examines the effectiveness of democracy promotion efforts by donor organisations and NGOs in transition countries, and how best to reinvigorate democracy in established democratic societies so that citizens can have a greater say in decisions that affect their lives.

Global Civil Society 2007/8 is the seventh Yearbook in a series that has become the standard work on all aspects of contemporary global civil society for activists, practitioners, students and academics alike. It is essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the key actors, forms and manifestations of global civil society around the world today. The Global Civil Society Yearbook is a collaboration between LSE's Centre for the Study of Global Governance, UCLA's Center for Civil Society and for 2007/8 the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.