ABSTRACT
A mature and active civil society is often regarded as a cornerstone of liberal democracy. Civil society can act as a check on the power of the state, as a place for the socialization of democratic norms, as a training ground for future political leaders and as an arena for the working out of development projects that complement, supplement or are an alternative to the state. The necessity of a vital civil society as a key component in the progression towards democracy is frequently remarked upon by political scientists. It is ironic then that in the world's mature democracies there should be a crisis over the health of civil society and the condition of social capital (Putnam, 2000). Barbados fits this pattern well. With over 50 years of stable democratic government, it is the thirdoldest parliamentary system in the world. Yet, as cultural and economic modernization have taken hold, popular participation in the democratic process and support for civil society has begun to wane. The challenge under such conditions is how to maintain a healthy and constructive civil society that can contribute to efforts to confront human vulnerability at the local level.
