Civil Society Research Articles

Entering through the “Me” Door: A Theory of Self-Reflexive Civic Engagement

ABSTRACT Sociologists have long debated whether practices that prioritize self-fulfillment are compatible with the functioning of a healthy civil society. Many have argued that attachment to individual self-fulfillment undermines traditional community ties and detracts from the formation of associations and active citizenship. However, recent evidence suggests that some inwardly focused self-fulfillment practices might support political engagement and even social activism. This paper uses the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program as a case study to explore this gap in understanding. MBSR leaders believe that their inwardly focused program is also politically significant. Through analyzing interviews with MBSR leaders, I have categorized how MBSR leaders describe possible mechanisms by which self-fulfillment practices could lead to greater civic engagement. MBSR leaders described practices that could help people cultivaterelationships and social capacity through (1) deep listening, (2) non-reactivity, and (3) de-centering the self. Although individuals may initiate a mindfulness course for selfish reasons, MBSR leaders believe that mindfulness practices support the development of what I call a self-reflexive awareness that they believe has the potential to build social capacity from the interior. This case suggests the need for further investigation into the political relevance of mindfulness and other self-reflexive practices.

From classrooms to global impact

In today's fast-changing environment, the need for quality education is more crucial than ever. Therefore, this article examines how quality education can transform society and contribute to a sustainable, interconnected world. It highlights the essential role of quality education in navigating global complexities, asserting that it can drive sustainable development and promote responsible global citizenship. The study redefined the scope of quality education by advocating for a holistic approach that goes beyond academic excellence, emphasizing the development of essential 21st-century competencies, critical thinking, and creativity. The article aligned educational practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the importance of environmental stewardship and social responsibility. It discussed how quality education nurtured intercultural understanding, empathy, and civic engagement, thereby cultivating a sense of global responsibility among students. Furthermore, the article identified quality education as a catalyst for sustainable development, preparing learners for the green economy and equipping them with future-ready skills to address complex global challenges through interdisciplinary problem-solving. The implementation of transformative quality education was examined, focusing on policy frameworks, inclusive curricula, and empowering educators as agents of change. The article concluded with a call to action, showcasing successful models and inspiring case studies, while mobilizing stakeholders to prioritize quality education as a means to empower global citizens and shape a better future.

Food Safety in Developing Countries: Common Foodborne and Waterborne Illnesses, Regulations, Organizational Structure, and Challenges of Food Safety in the Context of Nepal

ABSTRACTFood safety presents a global challenge, contributing to 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 fatalities annually worldwide. In developing countries, such as Nepal, addressing food safety is particularly intricate and arduous because of the prevalent issues of food insecurity, poverty, illiteracy, and regulatory hurdles. The objectives of this comprehensive review are to evaluate the prevalent foodborne and waterborne illnesses, examine the existing regulations and institutional frameworks, and identify the challenges associated with food safety in Nepal. Additionally, this review aims to propose strategies to enhance food safety measures in the country. An electronic search was conducted using relevant keywords to include articles and literature pertinent to the topic. Common foodborne illnesses in Nepal include cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, worm infections, and poisoning from mushrooms, heavy metals, and pesticides. While existing rules, regulations, and government infrastructure exist, they often face limitations in effectively addressing these multifaceted challenges. Food safety in developing countries, such as Nepal, faces several challenges, including inadequate regulatory frameworks, limited surveillance and monitoring, rural–urban disparities, and high incidences of foodborne illness. Additional issues stem from weak law enforcement, poor food safety practices, limited infrastructure, informal sector challenges, cross‐border trade, limited access to clean water, and the impacts of climate change. A multisectoral One Health approach involving collaboration among government agencies, food industry stakeholders, consumers, and civil society organizations is imperative to enhance food safety in developing countries such as Nepal.

The moral agency of civil society in post-election South Africa

With the dawn of the new post-election Government of National Unity (GNU) in South Africa, this article ventures some ideas on the possible contribution of civil society to this new dispensation with the aim of turning the tide of moral decay and to set the course to hope and the development of a community of character. The research approaches the topic from a Reformed theological-ethical paradigm and considers social ethics within the context of the kingdom of God as the determinant of Christian social ethics. The study explores the possibility that the upcoming civil society could contribute to the much-needed moral ethos of South Africa by means of cooperation, confrontation, complimentary action, and co-option with respect to the state machinery in the GNU. The central theoretical argument of this research is that the incumbent civil society in South Africa – as one of the pillars of the constitutional democracy – can play an important role in the reinvention of a sound moral ethos as a moral agent over and against the GNU. To prove this hypothesis, the article discusses and submits the following areas of social involvement by civil society as proposals for further reflection: reviving morality, fostering moral leadership, being the voice of the poor, exposing corruption, shadowing public education, fighting crime, furthering constitutionalism, and promoting national dialogue.Contribution: The research indicates that civil society in South Africa has renewed potential to act as a powerful and effective moral agent in the country by using the spaces provided by the new post-election GNU. It can play a prominent role in rebuilding the moral ethos, social cohesion, and welfare of the community.

In Conversation: Mother Tongue Education and Civic Engagement amongst Ga Youth

The role of language in education policies and the importance of civic engagement are well documented. What is less clear is how they converse with one another to inform how to develop active citizens who are empowered in their mother tongues. Building on a conceptual framework of civic engagement and linguistic injustice, this article asks: After the implementation of the 1971–1994 and 2004 medium of instruction education policies in Ghana, what language did Ga youth learn in, in practice? What are the intersections between Ga youths’ relationship to language and civic engagement participation? Together, these questions inform understanding of youth educational experiences, Ga people’s perception of the vitality of their language, and their responsibility to the community. In interviewing 22 Ga people in Ghana during the summer of 2022, I find that despite policy encouraging mother tongue instruction, most participants learned in English during primary school. Additionally, contrary to the notion that there is a disinterest in civic engagement amongst Ghanaian youth, findings show Ga youth find part of their civic responsibility to lie in passing on the Ga language to preserve their culture, land, identity, and the future of their community.

Social reproduction and contestation of racialized Roma exclusion: The role of civil society organizations in the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT Anti-Roma racism remains a persistent concern in numerous European countries. Despite sustained efforts by both the European Union and national governments over the past two decades to promote Roma inclusion, the effectiveness of these integration policies has largely been perceived as inadequate. This has been evident in the widespread exclusion experienced by Roma communities. Focusing on the Czech Republic, this article moves from examining state policies to the actions of civil society. In this context, the article explores the role played by Czech civil society organizations (CSOs) in both challenging and perpetuating racialized Roma exclusion. Building on Bourdieu’s concept of social habitus, this article expands it to a racialized social habitus framework. Through online interviews with CSOs and ethnographic fieldwork in four Czech cities, it explores the complex interplay between integration policies, civil society, and the racialized exclusion of the Czech Roma. The article illuminates how these organizations simultaneously contest and reinforce racialized perceptions of the Roma, thereby enriching scholarly dialogue on the complex dynamics of race and racism within civil society.

Research on political participation in contemporary Albania – an overview

ABSTRACT This article takes stock of research on political participation and civic engagement in Albania, a country generally perceived as lacking a civil society and a democratic political culture. Rather, Albanian political culture since the 1990s has been characterized by political conflict and a dysfunctional parliamentary life. On top of this comes widespread public dissatisfaction and a general lack of interest in politics. The general assumption is that a democratic political culture remains to be developed. Reviewing articles on public engagement in English-language journals and reports published in the recent decade, the overall picture is that research on Albanian political participation is poorly developed. There is a considerable amount of research and NGO reports dealing with formal political activity (electoral participation and party membership) and – in particular – studies of social movements, including protests and demonstrations. Other forms of participation are largely overlooked, like political consumption, social involvement, and civic engagement.

Feminist Identity and Online Activism in Four Countries From 2019 to 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened burdens on caregivers, but also the visibility of caregiving inequalities. These grievances may activate a feminist identity which in turn leads to greater civic and political participation. During a pandemic, online forms of participation are particularly attractive as they require less effort than offline forms of participation and pose less health risks compared to collective forms of offline activism. Using survey data from four countries (Canada, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom) collected in 2019 (prior to the pandemic), 2021 (during the pandemic), and 2023 (post-pandemic), we examine the relationship between self-identifying as a feminist and signing online petitions ( n = 18,362). Our multivariate analyses show that having a feminist identity is positively related to signing online petitions. We consider the differential effects of this identity on participation for men, women, non-binary people; caregivers versus non-caregivers; and respondents in different countries with varying levels of restrictions due to the pandemic. A feminist identity is more important for mobilizing caregivers than non-caregivers, whether or not the caregiver is a man or a woman. While grievance theory suggests differential effects by country and time period, we find a consistent role of feminist identity in predicting the signing of online petitions across time and across countries. These findings offer insights into how different groups in varying contexts are mobilized to participate.

Knocking on a Locked Door: Assessing Canada’s Response to Attacks Against Human Rights Defenders

Abstract For over two decades, Canadian corporations have been the subject of severe allegations of human rights and environmental violations related to the forced imposition of their operations abroad. Despite the growing consensus within the literature and international governance community that Canadian corporations—especially within the extractive sector—are serial perpetrators of grave human rights violations and despite Canada’s international legal obligations, at present there are very little ‘hard law’ mechanisms available to hold corporations to account. Whereas much literature has been dedicated to how Canadian corporations are facilitated by advocacy and lobbying efforts at the level of Canadian embassies in home-state-countries, much less studied is how these same state actors work towards protecting and preventing human rights defenders from harm. In this article we critically analyse the implementation of the Canadian government’s Voices at Risk guidelines (2016) from the perspective of two Canadian human rights advocacy Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) supporting communities in Guatemala, drawing from email and verbal communications as well as Access to Information Requests from 2016 to 2021 regarding the Escobal mine. We assess the usefulness of advocacy at the level of embassies as a way of protecting defenders and demonstrate that, in our experience, calls for support to defenders were ignored. We argue that, within the context of foreign policy which prioritizes trade and investment over all other government policies and wherein corporate violence is met with impunity, current Canadian policies aimed at protecting human rights defenders are essentially useless as an advocacy strategy.

Digital Democracy: How Technology Can Drive Higher Voter Turnout in Elections

This article pinpoints the transformative role of technology in improving the rate at which people vote during elections. An important concept developed in this paper is that of digital democracy, and as such, a thorough analysis will be done on technological advancements, which have so far proved very instrumental in promoting civic participation and entailing more involvement in the democratic process by all concerned through online voter registration, mobile phone applications, and social media campaigns. The article, therefore, pinpoints studies showing that states that have adopted online registration actually report higher rates of active voters, while mobile apps present information that makes voting more manageable. Social media also offers an effective outreach opportunity, particularly among younger voters, to create in them a sense of community and urgency about participation in electoral activity. The integration of educational tools, such as virtual workshops and gamified learning, enables further development of the capability to push participants and voters forward in an accessible and engaging manner. The article leverages these advantages of technological developments as a means toward creating a better-informed and more active electorate contributing to the health of democracy.

Tunisian civil society: political culture and democratic function since 2011

Tunisian civil society: political culture and democratic function since 2011

The Impact of Non-profit Regulatory Instruments on Civic Engagement Intention in China

Abstract In China, both governments and civil institutions play important roles in non-profit regulation. However, with various regulatory instruments available, it remains unclear which has the strongest public support and most effectively promotes civic engagement. This study compared the impact of different non-profit regulatory instruments addressing information disclosure on two aspects of civic engagement intention: willingness to donate and willingness to volunteer. A survey experiment was conducted to analyse the perspectives of 939 Chinese participants on four types of regulation: no regulation, civil regulation, accommodative government regulation and deterrent government regulation. Results showed that regulation was preferred to no regulation and deterrent government regulation was preferred to accommodative government regulation, which was preferred to civil regulation. Additionally, public trust in non-profits significantly mediated the relationship between regulation and civic engagement intention. These findings suggest that government regulation, particularly the deterrent approach, garners strong public support and may be prioritized within the Chinese context.

Penerbangan Berkelanjutan: Perlindungan Hak Masyarakat Adat Berbasis Nilai Pancasila

In Indonesia, the protection of indigenous peoples' rights in the context of the aviation industry based on Pancasila values faces complex challenges. Although there have been efforts to establish a legal basis that respects these rights, their implementation in the aviation sector is still limited. This research aims to explore the implementation of Pancasila values in the protection of indigenous peoples' rights in the aviation sector and identify collaborative steps that can be taken by the government, the aviation industry, and other stakeholders. Using a descriptive qualitative approach through literature studies, this study evaluates challenges such as the lack of participation of indigenous peoples in aviation project decisions and the lack of effective law enforcement. The results show that cooperation between governments, airlines, civil society, and indigenous peoples is essential to strengthen the protection of their rights. It is also necessary to evaluate the impact of airport development policies to ensure the protection of land rights and the sustainability of indigenous peoples' culture. The involvement of indigenous peoples in the planning of aviation projects is a concrete step to ensure the alignment of aviation infrastructure development with Pancasila values and the rights of indigenous peoples

PROTECTION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND FOOD (PLP2B) AS AN INDONESIAN STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs): BANYUWANGI AGRARIAN CONFLICT STUDY, INDONESIA

Agrarian conflict is inevitable, considering that Indonesia is known as an agricultural country. One of the agrarian conflicts that takes place continuously is the conflict that occurred in Banyuwangi, namely between PT. Bumi Sari with the Farmers Pillar of Pakel Village. This conflict involves the Company and civil society. The purpose of this study is to analyze the authority of the Banyuwangi local government in realizing the Protection of Agricultural Land and Food (PLP2B) in reducing agrarian conflicts as an effort to create Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Banyuwangi, Indonesia. This study actualizes the juridical normative model with the types of statute approach and conceptual approach. The study consisted of primary data and secondary data. Primary data comprises PLP2B, SPPN, PPA, and Regional Government Law, while secondary data contains various journls and books. Data analysis includes data collection, data reduction, and conclusions drawn. The data analysis of this study uses the theory of autonomy. Concluding uses an inductive pattern (generalization). The study results stated that after enacting the Job Creation Law, which imposed PSN (National Strategic Program), it could precede PLP2B in running a program. The Banyuwangi local government has the authority to ratify the PLP2B Law through the function of regional autonomy as an implication of the concept of decentralization in Indonesia’s government system. The Banyuwangi Regency government should optimize this function to create regulations or programs that have a relationship or correlation with the resolution of agrarian conflicts.

Integrating animal welfare into the WHO pandemic treaty: a thematic analysis of civil society perspectives and comparison with treaty drafting

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical weaknesses in the global health system, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated international approach to pandemic prevention and management. As negotiations for a new WHO pandemic treaty progress, the effective integration of animal welfare is crucial. This paper aims to investigate the perspectives of key civil society organizations on the integration of animal welfare provisions into the pandemic treaty. Through a thematic analysis of documents prepared by FOUR PAWS, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Action for Animal Health between 2020–2023, five major themes are identified: prevention of zoonotic spillover, One Health approach, animal health systems and infrastructure, sustainable and ethical animal management practices, and policy coherence and governance. A comparative analysis of these themes against the April 2024 draft of the pandemic treaty reveals areas of alignment and divergence. Due to the ongoing controversies and the need for further improvements, the WHO's intergovernmental negotiating body was unable to finalize the treaty text for the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024, leading to an extended mandate until 2025. Based on the findings, the paper proposes recommendations to strengthen the integration of animal welfare into the treaty, arguing that incorporating these recommendations is critical for developing a transformative, equitable, and effective treaty that addresses the systemic drivers of pandemic risk.

The Importance of Implementing Sustainable Practices in Municipalities of the Araguaia River Valley, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Objective: The present work aims to identify and analyze strategies for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in municipalities in Vale do Araguaia in the state of Mato Grosso - Brazil, as well as their benefits and challenges, providing recommendations for promoting sustainable development at the local level. Theoretical Framework: The text addresses essential strategies for implementing sustainable practices in local communities, such as solid waste management, conservation of water resources, use of renewable energy and promotion of sustainable agriculture. Highlights include recycling and composting to reduce waste, water reuse systems and renewable energy, such as solar, for energy self-sufficiency. Sustainable agriculture strengthens the local economy, while conscious consumption is encouraged by educational campaigns. Community participation and government support are crucial for balancing economic development, social justice and environmental preservation. Method: This comparative case study analyzed the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 25 municipalities in Mato Grosso, in the Araguaia river basin. Different municipal strategies and contexts were examined, using data from public sources such as the Water and Sanitation Institute and the Sustainable Cities Development Index – Brazil (IDSC-BR). The analysis was organized in a table and the average of the results made it possible to evaluate the level of sustainable development of each city. Results and Discussion: The research points out that, although the implementation of sustainable practices in municipalities is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the results are still below expectations. Only three municipalities achieved average rates, and none achieved satisfactory results. This reveals structural challenges, such as a lack of adequate public policies and budget limitations. The research highlights the need for greater coordination between government spheres, the private sector and civil society, in addition to more concrete and inclusive planning to promote sustainable development. Research Implications: The practical implications of this study suggest the need for greater integration between government spheres and the private sector to optimize the implementation of the SDGs in municipalities, highlighting the importance of effective public policies and investments in priority areas. Theoretically, the study offers insights into the structural challenges faced by cities, contributing to the debate on sustainable urban management and the development of policy models that can accelerate the achievement of global sustainability goals. Originality/Value: The originality of the study lies in its detailed analysis of the implementation of the SDGs in municipalities, revealing the specific structural challenges that limit their progress. The value lies in providing a practical overview of the gaps in public policies and local management, in addition to highlighting the need for greater intersectoral coordination to achieve sustainable development, offering valuable guidelines for future urban planning and sustainability policies.

Non-government advocacy for health equity: evidence from Australia.

The aim of this paper is to identify non-governmental organizations (NGOs) advocating for policy and practices to address rising health inequities in Australia. NGOs can play a critical role in shaping and influencing governance processes including public policy relating to the social and commercial determinants of health inequities. However, scholarship on who the NGOs are that are advocating to address health inequities in Australia and how they operate is sparse. Through desktop analysis in 2022, we searched NGO websites and documents for evidence of advocacy activities related to health inequities between 2017 and 2022. A database of the NGOs was compiled, noting the type of organization, function, advocacy activities and main issues their advocacy covered. A total of 137 NGOs were identified as engaging in activities advocating for change to address health inequities either directly (e.g. advocating directly to address health inequities) or indirectly (e.g. advocating on social determinants of health inequities such as housing and linking to their unequal health impacts). We noted the primary issues they advocated on, including topic categories: risk factor, disease-specific, broader health system, social determinants of health equity, and health workforce and service issues. The results indicate that Australian NGOs from multiple sectors are active in advocacy to address heath inequities on a variety of topics and through a variety of activities. This study provides a template for similar studies in other countries and suggests further research is needed to understand the role and impact of civil society advocacy to address growing health inequities.

Refugee protection and the role of civil society: a comparative study of Japan and South Korea

This study examines the role of civil society in refugee policy by comparing and contrasting refugee protection in two neighboring Asian democracies, namely Japan and South Korea. It argues that, despite their seemingly similar refugee protection trajectories, including their burden-shifting and non-recognition policies, civil societies have led the two countries to take divergent paths in the shape of refugee protection. While the Japanese civil society has taken the lead in adopting global refugee norms at the regional level, the Korean civil society has challenged the government’s refugee policies through robust domestic advocacy efforts.

Rising Strong: Does Personal Resilience Drive Civic Engagement During Disasters?

Background: In the crucible of disasters, civic engagement emerges as a dynamic force that channels individual strength and collective willpower toward the common good. Although it has been recognized as a necessary precondition for community resilience, studies on the motivators for citizens’ activities during disasters are relatively limited. This study underscores the interplay of personal resilience, risk perception, and coping strategies in the context of emergency-oriented civic engagement. It provides a robust framework for comprehending the cognitive and emotional processes that drive individuals’ responses to threats and risks to improve knowledge about public behavior, psychological conditions, and mental health during man-made disasters. Method: an online survey was conducted with a sample of 1514 citizens in Israel. A model incorporating both moderation and mediation effects was proposed. Results: The results reveal a consistent positive relationship between personal resilience and emergency-oriented civic engagement and point to the importance of both the intervening role of risk perception and the moderating role of coping strategies. Conclusions: discuss the importance of resilience-building programs and the promotion of positive coping strategies which can empower individuals to navigate the complexities of risk perception and engage actively in civic activities during disasters.

Empowering Youth through Open Data: Map-Based Storytelling of Croatian vs. European Youth

Abstract. In the digital age, open data has become a critical asset for fostering transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. However, the widespread availability of data has outpaced citizens' ability to effectively utilize it, underscoring the need for data literacy skills, especially among youth. This paper addresses the gap in data literacy by proposing an innovative teaching approach that leverages map-based storytelling to engage young people and enhance their data literacy. By integrating real-world open datasets into interactive visual narratives, this approach aims to captivate young audiences, develop critical thinking skills, and foster a deeper understanding of socio-economic issues. Through a case study of a Datathon project titled “Croatian Youth vs. EU: Who has it better?”, this research demonstrates the efficacy of combining data visualization and storytelling to promote data literacy and civic engagement. The findings highlight the potential of open data initiatives and open-source technologies in empowering youth and enhancing their participation in open government initiatives and policy-making processes.