This sub-plenary investigates organizational perfection and imperfection in studying the “civic life” of contemporary cities. We put our research on civil society in global cities around the world into conversation to better understand how organizations deal with the challenge of pursuing perfection in an imperfect world. We inquire about the challenges of organizing “perfectly” for beneficiaries and causes whose continued existence is proof of ongoing failures to enact real change.
 
The sub-plenary will showcase organizing for the greater good in the non-profit sectors of San Francisco, Vienna, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Sydney.