Rethinking Civil Society: Building Power for Social Transformation

This question framed a roundtable convened by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) on 29 July 2026 in Johannesburg. Civil society leaders, activists, organisers, legal advocates and policy thinkers gathered to reflect on the state of civil society and strategies for building collective power.
Against a backdrop of shrinking civic space, deepening inequality and an increasingly hostile geopolitical environment, participants examined the pressures facing civil society, including institutional failures, xenophobia, fragmented organising and growing dependence on external funding.

A central discussion focused on the relationship between legal advocacy and movement-building. While litigation remains an important tool for defending rights, participants questioned whether legal strategies can address the structural conditions producing inequality and displacement without being connected to sustained grassroots organising.

Three parallel discussions explored civil society's relationship with the state, the possibilities for building broader coalitions, and strategies for confronting structural inequalities. Across these conversations, participants highlighted the need for stronger connections between movements, organised labour and grassroots organisations, while maintaining political and organisational autonomy.

The roundtable also called for a rethinking of civil society funding and accountability. Participants questioned whether donor-driven priorities can enable genuine grassroots accountability and emphasised the need to centre Southern perspectives and locally defined priorities.

The final discussion on Rethinking Activism pointed towards a more integrated approach: combining legal defence with movement-building, strengthening internal political analysis, supporting collective learning and using communication as a tool for building movements rather than simply generating visibility.

The discussions highlighted a civil society at an important crossroads. Moving forward requires greater strategic clarity, stronger coordination and deeper accountability to grassroots constituencies.

As Dr Sandy Africa reflected in the closing session, the challenge is not only to defend democratic space, but to confront and transform the power relations that shape society.

The question remains: How do we organise when we are unsure of our organising?