The relationship of civil society with state is not always adhesive. Some times it became coercive.  In Authoritarian form of government, existence of civil society is denied. After the fall of British Empire and evolution of new states, concept of civil society emerged strongly. Marxists, pluralists and liberalists have difference theories on civil society. The state’s relationship with civil society is the key issue in political sociology. The most accepted theory for civil society is based on liberalism form of governance.

 For liberals, the state is a necessary evil that serves civil society, and which is accountable to citizens through political representation. The state's functions are primarily to maintain internal social order and to protect civil society from external threats to its security. 

 Some liberals allow for a more developed state role in such areas as welfare provision, all liberals prioritise a clear separation between state and civil society. This is contrasted with totalitarian regimes, such as Nazi Germany or the USSR, where the division between state and civil society is dissolved and the state, representing a sectional interest, suppresses alternative sites of power.

 Civil societies are always constructive, is not true. Some developing countries have restricted the role of civil societies to restrict the foreign influences in policy making as well as in development works.  It is seen that the external powers uses civil societies and NGOs as pressure groups and they acts as friction in development process.  Civil societies are also influenced and guided by external powers to topple the legitimate, democratically elected government as seen in middle east.