Abstract
As a discourse, the existence of civil society can be traced ever since four centuries ago, and it is still under process up to this day. In recent perspective, civil society is idealised as a precondition for the establishment of democracy and equal distribution of developmental benefits. It is clear that civil society is no panacea. Civil society has its own roles, primarily in initiating processes of catalyst of dialogue, balancing interest, picking up signals, and initiating collective action. These four roles can support the process of democratization and moving towards a better development; and therefore the empowerment of civil society is seen as a strategic action.
