This paper has the ambitious aim of reviewing how globalisation might impact on Irish civil society. While this cannot be achieved in a short paper the aim is to introduce key theories than can help civil society actors begin to theorise how globalisation might impact on their own work and to indicate where further reading might enable further reflection. The paper first explores some key definitions and then outlines a theoretical framework from which to examine the puzzle of how globalisation might impact on Irish civil society. The macro theory focuses on how the state strategies, in the context of globalisation, to mitigate the power or effectiveness of civil society to articulate conflict about redistributional issues in society (Pierson 1998). Four examples of such state strategies are then briefly examined; co-option into social partnership, reshaping discourse, reshaping civil society organisations and restructuring local governance. The discussion then reflects on the key issue relating to both theories, the strong directive control of the state over civil society organisational space and processes. The paper concludes by observing that not all civil society organisations have been effectively captured by the state and that it is in both the states and civil society’s interests to have a more independent and balanced civil society and a more open and varied discourse. The paper concludes by commenting on possibilities for civil society organisations.