Culture and civil society in an international context: The case of Aga Khan health care and education initiatives in Tanzania

This dissertation is a case study of Ismaili health-care and education initiatives which focusses on the cultural and international dimensions of civil society in Africa. The Ismailis are Shi'a Muslim followers of the Aga Khan from the Indian sub-continent. They first came to East Africa in the 19th century and began building health-care facilities and schools. Today, these initiatives are maintained by Ismaili organizations that are rooted in Tanzania's civil society. Research for this dissertation was conducted in the United States, Europe, and during field work in Africa between September 1992 and July 1993.;In this study, I argue that understanding Ismaili identity in terms of race, religion, nationality and cultural heritage demonstrates how Ismaili culture has affected their commitment to Tanzanian society. The international dimensions of Ismaili initiatives in civil society are explored in the theoretical context of multinational corporations. The Ismailis, who live in over twenty countries throughout the world, have developed a transnational organization called the Aga Khan Development Network, which organizes Ismaili cultural, economic and social service institutions in a way that is similar to multinational corporations.;As the Ismaili case shows, civil society is often a multi-level phenomenon that needs to be understood in local, national and international contexts. While some civil society organizations confront the state for increased political participation and democratization, others are not explicitly political, especially when they are dedicated to delivering social services. Civil society organizes itself to fulfill a diverse set of goals through conflict or cooperation with the state and this is conditioned by cultural dynamics at every level.