本文從全球的政治社會及經濟發展經驗，討論市民社會在當代的意義、規劃師的可能角色及規劃專業教育的新方向。 作者將市民社會定義為：社會形構中的四個行動及有意義的社會實踐範疇之一(另外三個範疇分別是國家，資本及政治)。本文認為組織市民社會及其他形式的社會組織與集體行動的核心是家戶，家戶不只是消費單位，也是生產和再生產單位。家戶要得到發展，市民權的發展是重要關鍵。文中作者強調，傳統馬克思主義的語彙裡，忽略了市民社會的發展目的是“為其自身”這一層意義。 市民社會將成為新政治經濟的主題，也將做為建構我們的城市與區域的集體行動者。規劃者的挑戰是重新界定自己及其專業，使之與浮現中的市民社會相一致，以尋找美好的生活。

　　　　　This paper describes, base on contemporary global political social economic development, the meaning of civil society, roles of planners and new directions for planning education. Friedmann defines civil society, as one of four partially autonomous and overlapping spheres of action and valued social practices. Central to the organization of civil society and the basis of all other forms of social organization and collective action is the household. The key to the development of households is the development of civil rihgts. Firedmann argued that traditional Marxist terminology doesn't capture the moment of civil society being for itself. The author emphasis that the hallmark of the new political economy is the reemergence of civil society as a collective actor in the construction of our cities and regions. The challenge for planners is, in search of good life, to redefine themselves and their profession in ways that will make their work congruent with it.