Since the fall of communism CEE countries are undergoing a revival of civil society, also referred to as the ‘third sector’, which emerged after restrictions imposed under the communist party were abolished. The concept of civil society in its broader sense is the part of a society that exists next to state and market, the London school of Economics Civil Society department refers to it as “the arena of uncoerced collective action around shared interests, purposes and values.” This collective action is formed by voluntary civic and social organisations or institutions referred to as non-profit organisations (NPOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This phenomenon is of high interest considering the current European wide dispute over the role civil society should have next to government and business. European institutions have been trying to enhance the development of NGOs in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries through financial as well as institutional help. The EU enlargement was assumed to even further encourage the development of NGOs in CEE countries. Thus, the Czech Republic, one of the first aspirants of the CEE countries entering the EU, is considered to be a prime example to show how the mutual relation between the non-governmental sector in CEE countries and the EU institutions developed. To be able to define the politics and policies for future assistance of the European Union to CEE NGOs, two aspects are of special importance. One, it is necessary to understand the success NGOs in CEE countries have had in terms of succeeding to promote their interests in EU decision-making before and after the accession. Second, it is crucial to determine the role the European Union has played in the achievement of their goals.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 NGOs in the Czech Republic
2.1 Why do non-government organisations matter?
2.2 Challenges of the non-government sector
3 EU institutions support for NGOs in Czech Republic before and after EU accession
3.1 Pre-accession period
3.1.1 Pre-accession Funds
3.1.2 The EU Agenda assisting NGO projects
3.1.3 Failures of the pre-accession means
3.2 Post-accession period
3.2.1 Post-accession Funding
3.2.2 Problems with EU funding and the transition to new funding sources
3.2.3 Agenda
3.2.4 Agenda Problems
4 Influence of Czech NGOs on EU institutions before and after EU accession
4.1 Pre-accession
4.2 Post-accession
4.2.1 Agenda setting
4.2.2 Lobbying and advocacy organisation on the national level
4.2.3 Problems of Czech NGOs on the EU level
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This essay aims to analyze the reciprocal influence between Czech non-governmental organizations and European Union institutions during and after the accession period. The study examines how EU support mechanisms have shaped the development of the Czech third sector and evaluates the changing capacity of Czech NGOs to participate in and influence European policy-making.
- Evolution of the Czech non-governmental sector post-communism.
- Impact of EU financial and institutional support tools (pre- vs. post-accession).
- Mechanisms and strategies of NGO lobbying and agenda setting at the EU level.
- Institutional challenges and barriers for NGOs in the integration process.
- The relationship between NGO autonomy and dependency on state/EU funding.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Why do non-government organisations matter?
Varying terms are being applied to describe NGOs. They range from ‘non-profit organisation’ over ‘voluntary organisations’ to ‘civil society organisations’. However, the term ‘NPO’ or ‘NGO’ is too general to instantly make clear what kind of organisations it refers to. There is no generally accepted definition of the non-governmental sector, as it is hard to fit all sizes and types of organisations such as small community theatre groups or big global organisations with thousands of members into one definition. Moreover they differ in their scope of activities as well as in their financial and professional background. Nevertheless, there have been pretty accurate attempts to assess the characteristics NGOs generally have in common. Lester Salamon and Helmut Anheiner, two of the leading theorists, list their formal structure, their private non-governmental nature and their voluntary nature. Furthermore, they describe NGOs as not aiming at making profit for their owners and being independent from governments or any institutions, following a policy of self-determination (1992:127). This essay is complying with Salomon and Anheiners definition.
In the Czech Republic the non-government sector and the concept of civil society today is understood as “a positive association of people independent of the state, contributing to the development of civil values and social capital, and taking a generally constructive stance towards democracy as a social order” (Vajdová, 2005:23) amongst the public and experts in the Czech Republic. Before the decline of communism in 1989 the non-government sector was non-existent. During communism the authoritarian regime
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the civil society revival in the Czech Republic and outlines the research objective regarding the mutual influence between Czech NGOs and EU institutions.
2 NGOs in the Czech Republic: Defines the non-profit sector in the Czech context, detailing its historical emergence post-1989 and the socio-political challenges it currently faces.
3 EU institutions support for NGOs in Czech Republic before and after EU accession: Examines the financial and institutional assistance provided by the EU to Czech NGOs, distinguishing between the specific pre-accession and post-accession funding environments.
4 Influence of Czech NGOs on EU institutions before and after EU accession: Evaluates the actual impact Czech NGOs have had on EU policy and the methods they employ to exert influence at both national and international levels.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings of the study, highlighting the significant growth in NGO capacity while noting that bureaucratic hurdles and transitional issues remain.
Keywords
Czech Republic, NGOs, European Union, Civil Society, EU Accession, Third Sector, Advocacy, PHARE, Structural Funds, Lobbying, Democracy, European Integration, Policy-making, Non-profit sector, Institution building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
This work examines the evolution of the Czech non-governmental sector in relation to its integration into the European Union and the resulting mutual influence between these NGOs and EU institutional bodies.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The book covers the definition of the third sector, the role of pre-accession and post-accession funding (such as PHARE), the political role of NGOs in the Czech Republic, and strategies for successful advocacy in the EU.
What is the main research objective?
The primary objective is to analyze how the transition process to EU membership has impacted the independence, organization, and policy-making influence of Czech non-governmental organizations.
Which scientific methodologies are utilized?
The study employs a policy analysis approach, utilizing research from social theorists (such as Salamon and Anheiner) and evaluating current documentation on EU funding procedures and NGO participation standards.
What content is discussed in the main body?
The main body contrasts the pre-accession phase—characterized by external aid and capacity building—with the post-accession phase, where NGOs face complex bureaucratic challenges and must adapt to new, more rigorous EU standards.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
Key terms include Czech Republic, EU accession, third sector, civil society, advocacy, PHARE, lobbying, and democratic institution building.
How has the Czech government’s relationship with NGOs evolved?
While the non-profit sector was essentially non-existent under the communist regime, the post-1989 era saw a rapid increase in NGOs, though their relationship with the state remains complex, particularly due to ideological debates and differing perspectives on the role of civil society in democracy.
What is the 'deadlock situation' mentioned regarding funding?
It refers to the difficulties encountered by NGOs during the transition to post-accession funding, caused by a 'dual reporting system' and the incompatibility between EU requirements and local administrative procedures.
Why do advocacy and watchdog NGOs struggle more than others?
Unlike service-oriented NGOs (e.g., sports or health), advocacy groups often find themselves in opposition to governmental policies, making them less likely to receive consistent state support and more dependent on limited alternative funding.
- Citation du texte
- Diplom-Kauffrau, MA Contemporary European Studies Vanessa Buth (Auteur), 2006, Civil society and the European Union: The mutual influence between EU institutions and czech non-Government organisations before and after EU-accession , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/65493
