(definite article) society?

It sounds so right to me to put the definite article 'the' before society as in:

I will contribute a lot to the society.

However, sometimes, I come across examples where the article is dropped.

E.g. People in society do not want this.


Should we in general add the article before the word society?

Thanks

It depends whether you are referring to a club/association (use 'the') or to society in general (no article).