Civil society actors throughout the world are increasingly involved in public policy making, on the national as well as the international level. Their strategies and impact was the theme of an international seminar held in Paris in 2007, jointly organized by the Institute for Research and Debate on Governance and the Ford Foundation. Thirty scholars and civil society leaders exchanged ideas on how they influence public policy and make their voices heard within the global public sphere. These proceedings present the main themes of their discussions.