The article discusses historical, socio-cultural features, and the complexity of the formation of civil society in the countries of Asia, for example India, Japan, China, the most important and significant countries of the Asian continent. Focusing on a number of similarities in the development of civil society in these countries, in general, inherent in the model of civil society, the author pays special attention to specific features of development of civil society of each of them. As the present study illustrates, the Western values are embedded into the value systems of several Asian countries, and this introduction of democratic values in Eastern culture has an impact on the adaptation of existing forms of relations between individuals and the authorities to the changing conditions associated with the rights and freedoms of individual, increasing the accountability of the authorities vis-à-vis an individual or society. The analysis of the genesis of civil society in India, Japan, and China clearly demonstrates a number of traits, in general, inherent in the model of civil society. In these countries, the shaping of civil society constitutes an extensive network of various non-governmental organizations. The activities of these organizations, whether the environmental movement in Japan, or numerous voluntary “grassroots” organizations in India are targeted at the protection of human rights, at tackling important social problems, promote social inclusion of the vast array of the population. However, according to the author, unlike Western countries, the basis of civil society in India, Japan, and China is not a self-organizing individual but a personality, motivated by interest. Due to the lack of a strong democratic tradition in the history of these countries, the role of interconnection between the civil society and the state is great, and the state enjoys a significant impact on its formation and development, and sometimes trying, as in China, to put this process under control.