Over the past couple of decades, the world has witnessed massive protests demanding various forms of political change, ranging from policy revisions to leadership succession and even regime breakdown. Governments, regardless of regime type, are increasingly challenged by more informed, assertive, and organized citizenries eager to claim human rights, demand more accountable governance, and press for increased political participation. With its deep affinity for democracy, civil society is seen as an appropriate and effective vessel for channeling popular discontent against corrupt and abusive governments.

However, not all actions by civil society adhere to constitutional rules or promote democratic consolidation. During times of heightened political crises and polarization, civil society mobilization and collaboration with elites and other political actors can exacerbate political conflict and even lead to the extralegal removal of democratically elected leaders. Crises fomented by civil society compel institutions such as the legislature, judiciary, and military to act in ways that arguably exceed the democratic constitutional framework. In situations where an alliance of civil society organizations successfully fulfills the dual role of persistent protester and credible broker between political actors, such as opposition elites and the military, democratically elected governments succumb to a civil society coup. In other words, by building a strong infrastructure of societal opposition to the government and acting as a catalyst for a coup, civil society organizations can effectively mount a legitimate challenge against popularly elected leaders.

My book manuscript project investigates such cases from Latin America, such as Venezuela and Bolivia. During my CSEAS visiting fellowship, I will add Southeast Asian cases to the manuscript. This study challenges existing scholarship on civil society and democratization, offers a unique perspective on the complex contradictions behind state-civil society relations, and sheds light on the threats faced by young democracies.