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World Civil Society and the International Rule of Law

large, powerful, and organized, the idea "contains the assumption that civil society ... is in a position to ensure that the state does its job but no more, and that it does it properly."2 But what of other civilizations in an emerging global society? Do they, too, limit the activities of states? Do they give meaning to the idea of a "state?" Is not the better ideal a democratic society which itself defines the parameters of power of a contemporary state under international law? Democracy and the rule of law are concepts whose core lies in Western civilization. Yet might civil society as an idea extend beyond Western origins? In a later work, Gellner answered that question, but only in part. He thought the idea of civil society to have priority even over democracy. "'Civil Society' is markedly superior to a notion such as 'democracy,' which, though it may highlight the fact that we prefer consent over coercion, tells us precious little concerning the social pre-conditions of the effectiveness of general consent and participation."3 In customary and traditional societies,