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Civil society in times of change: Shrinking, changing and expanding spaces and the need for new regulatory approaches

Author

Listed:
  • Anheier, Helmut K.
  • Lang, Markus
  • Toepler, Stefan

Abstract

The relationship between many G20 governments and organized civil society has become more complex, laden with tensions, and such that both have to find more optimal modes of engagement. In some instances, state-civil society relations have worsened, leading some experts and activists to speak of a "shrinking space" for civil society. How wide- spread is this phenomenon? Are these more isolated occurrences or indeed part of a more general development? How can countries achieve and maintain an enabling environment for civil society? The authors suggest that much of the current impasse results foremost from outdated and increasingly ill-suited regulatory frameworks that fail to accommodate a much more diverse and expanded set of civil society organizations (CSO). In response, they propose a differentiated model for a regulatory framework based on functional roles. Based on quantitative profiling and expert surveys, moreover, the paper also derives initial recommendations on how governments and civil society could find ways to relate to each other in both national and multilateral contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Anheier, Helmut K. & Lang, Markus & Toepler, Stefan, 2018. "Civil society in times of change: Shrinking, changing and expanding spaces and the need for new regulatory approaches," Economics Discussion Papers 2018-80, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ifwedp:201880
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Anheier, Helmut K., 2017. "Civil society challenged: Towards an enabling policy environment," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 11, pages 1-20.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    civil society; NGOs; Closing Civic Space; nonprofit regulation; G20;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F5 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy
    • L31 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Nonprofit Institutions; NGOs; Social Entrepreneurship
    • H7 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations
    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law

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