Civil Society Initiatives Research Articles

Innovative but feeble: Civil society and political financing accountability in Uruguay

ABSTRACT This article examines the impact of civic action on enhancing accountability and combating corruption in political financing, focusing on two civil society initiatives in Uruguay. The initiatives aimed to digitize and map information on funding received by political parties and politicians in the 2009 and 2014 elections, presenting their findings through interactive online platforms. The paper engages theoretically with the literature on the dimensions of accountability and contributes to understanding the challenges faced by civil society organizations in promoting political financing accountability even in full democracies, a topic largely understudied. Findings highlight concerns beyond electoral authorities’ well-known resource constraints in detecting illicit political donations and spending in Uruguay. The paper shows that transparency is not enough to reduce corruption. We argue that for political finance accountability to be effective, it must encompass bottom-up, horizontal, and diagonal dimensions. The analysis suggests the need for complementary measures, such as digital solutions for reporting and disclosing political finance information, along with active horizontal and bottom-up oversight mechanisms. The article draws on qualitative analysis based on documentary research and 19 interviews with activists, academics, journalists, developers of the initiatives, and public officials involved in political finance regulation.

Sufficiency Initiatives and Municipalities: Opportunities and Limitations for Bringing People and Politics Together

This article examines the potential and challenges of sufficiency initiatives within the urban environment, focusing on their ability to bring people and politics together. Drawing on research from the EU-funded “FULFILL” project, which includes surveys, interviews and case studies in five EU Member States, this study explores the role of civil society initiatives in fostering sufficiency—a concept that advocates for meeting human needs within planetary boundaries by altering lifestyles, societal norms, and regulatory frameworks. Sufficiency initiatives find themselves in a precarious position against a backdrop of growth-oriented urban development and face barriers such as lack of resources, legal and regulatory challenges, measurement difficulties, and inertia of municipalities. However, the study also identifies examples of fruitful cooperation between municipalities and initiatives and identifies enablers for successful collaboration, including aligned goals, engaged individuals, and effective communication. By providing an outlook for short-, mid-, and long-term governance perspectives, this article argues for strategic niche management in the short term, development of metrics for sufficiency in the medium term, and a systemic shift in urban dynamics in the long term. As urban sufficiency initiatives offer services and infrastructure to promote sustainable living, they are critical players in guiding cities towards ecological and social resilience. This article contributes to the discourse on urban sustainability by highlighting the importance of municipalities in nurturing sufficiency initiatives that can drive social well-being and environmental stewardship.

Extractivism triggering new forms of governance for the rights of nature: The case of Northwest Ecuador

The intensification of resource extractivism around the world poses multiple challenges and fosters the development of new governance structures, especially among communities on the frontlines of resource extraction. Through a narrative inquiry based on narrative interviews with local actors and experts, this article centres on governance as a resistance strategy of local, frontline, communities in the Ecuadorian Northwest Pichincha and Imbabura provinces. The narratives give insights into: a) How new processes of governance are triggered by mining conflict and, in particular, how governance is shaped and manifested; b) Governance challenges faced by local governments and communities; and c) Lessons and recommendations for governance and how these contribute to the discussion of post-extractivism alternatives. New governance processes are shaped through socio-organisational processes and the strengthening of associations and civil society organisations; the institutionalisation of private, civil society, and community conservation initiatives; as well as the actions of the organised community to successfully invoke the Rights of Nature (RoN) through legal litigation. Institutional gaps that reflect competing visions of development are seen as governance challenges by local government and community members. Overall, this study highlights the critical role of governance structures and instruments rooted in frontline community perspectives, offering pathways for the development of post-extractivism alternatives.

Deconstructing a National Hero: The Changing Representation of the Prussian Sailor and Slave Trader Joachim Nettelbeck, 1807 to Present

Abstract: Joachim Nettelbeck (1738–1824) was a Prussian sailor who worked as a first mate on Dutch slavers, lobbied with three Prussian kings for the acquisition of overseas colonies, and became famous when his hometown Kolberg was under siege by Napoleonic troops in 1807. This article traces the heroization of Nettelbeck during the past two centuries and analyzes how this representation faced eventual crisis. After providing an account of Nettelbeck's biography, it examines how Nettelbeck was made a national hero and how his participation in the transatlantic slave trade was repressed in this process. Finally, it describes how decolonial civil society initiatives have shifted the public perception of Nettelbeck since 2008.

Social innovation for sustainable and equitable transport: the case of Commons Cargo Bikes

Socially innovative civil society initiatives are seen as promising to address societal and environmental problems such as those encountered in the transport sector. However, many social innovators struggle when it comes to growth and achieving broader system-level impact. These problems are often ascribed to challenges associated with organizational structures. This paper investigates the scaling process and organizational development of a European social innovation in the transport sector, Commons Cargo Bikes. Empirically, the study primarily builds on two quantitative surveys with initiatives and users as well as qualitative interviews with spokespersons of an overarching network. The results indicate that social innovations can provide important complements to technological and market-based innovations by providing alternative solutions that reach geographical regions and users not typically addressed by traditional services. Furthermore, the study highlights that rather formal structures can be necessary for successful social innovation networks at a certain point. As the present case study indicates, tensions associated with organizational changes might, however, be anticipated and addressed proactively by combining different organizational archetypes in one structure.

The Digital Agora Fights Back: Building Disinformation Resilience One Initiative at a Time

Countering disinformation and challenging ideologically divisive social media tactics to protect electoral integrity requires innovative digitally driven changes within the public sphere. While there is growing scholarly interest in exploring novel ways of countering mis- and disinformation, research examining specific initiatives remains scarce. This article provides in-depth qualitative case studies of two successful collaborative civil society initiatives in the digital agora that used digital media to counter disinformation: (1) Comprova during Brazil’s presidential election and (2) the Transparent Referendum Initiative in Ireland’s 8th Amendment Referendum. As these cases demonstrate, fact-checking and debunking initiatives benefited from crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing allowed these initiatives to counter disinformation while simultaneously building more knowledgeable, engaged, and empowered communities.

Community resilience through bottom–up participation: when civil society drives urban transformation processes

Abstract In recent years, bottom–up civil society initiatives have advanced urban transformation processes in Berlin. Following previous research suggesting that bottom–up participation could have a positive impact on community resilience (CR), we analyse the impact of engagement on Berlin–based civil society initiatives. Whilst a positive effect on resilience can be found, we identify governance processes that would be necessary to enable the full potential of bottom–up participation for CR. Resilience, understood as the capacity of a community to thrive in times of change and uncertainty, is becoming increasingly important for the functioning of (urban) communities; hence, finding ways of strengthening it is deemed necessary.

Poverty research or research poverty? The interaction between civil society researchers and scientists in postwar Belgium

ABSTRACT Civil society initiatives played a key role in the increasing academic focus on poverty in mid-1960s Europe. The first generation of academic poverty researchers were able to draw on the expertise of civil society actors who, since the 1950s, had been carrying out their own research to counter a lack of scholarly interest. While the ‘rediscovery’ of poverty as a research topic in academic circles has received scholarly attention, the research efforts of their non-academic counterparts have been overlooked. Building on recent work in the history of knowledge, this article focuses on poverty-related research in Belgium by both academic and non-academic knowledge producers. We assess whether and how both types of knowledge co-existed and possibly interacted. We also demonstrate how, due to a lack of academic interest in the 1950s, research on poverty in Belgium became crucial for civil society actors. From the mid-1960s onwards, the renewed academic interest in poverty facilitated interactions between established civil society researchers and academic scholars, but these interactions were complicated by a growing divergence in methods and goals. Through the lens of poverty, this article expands on our understanding of the development of research in the social sciences.

A ‘Romantic Public Tragedy’? COVID Pandemic and the Changes of Governance in Poland

The impact of pandemic governance on state regimes is a topic of lively debate. While some researchers suggest that governments may use a ‘state of exception’ to consolidate their power and introduce new methods of control, others see it as an opportunity for new civil society initiatives and social innovation. In this paper, we examine both the actions and discourses of the Polish government and its associated actors and the independent bottom-up responses of Polish society and how these were incorporated or rejected by the government. Our primary focus is on public health governance, including quarantine policies, the management of scarce personal protective equipment, related narratives and societal responses. This study is based primarily on desk research, analysis of key legislation and regulations tailored to the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland and analysis of social media (X/Twitter) discourse related to COVID-19. Our research reveals a crisis not only of governance but primarily of the neoliberal capitalist state. We conclude that governance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland showed uneven patterns.

Violence against health-care workers in emergency departments: A study in Fez, Morocco

The issue of violence against health-care workers (HCWs) has garnered significant attention, necessitating urgent resolution due to escalating conflicts between HCWs and patients or their companions. Addressing this matter is paramount to mitigate its impact on HCWs and improve the quality of care afforded to citizens. To identify the underlying causes, particularly within emergency departments, we conducted a survey involving over 75 doctors and nurses across various hospitals to collect pertinent data. Our findings indicate that the health system is the major cause of violence, alongside the awareness of human rights fostered by social media. Furthermore, we conducted an interview with a doctor who has extensive experience working in emergency departments. Through this interview, he elucidated the extent to which this department poses dangers and the substandard conditions prevalent in the workplace. This study attempts to contribute scientifically toward finding efficient solutions, including legal measures, civil society initiatives, and police involvement. It suggests that reforms may be necessary in the functioning of these departments. This aspect represents an unsolved issue warranting further exploration.

Digital Divide and Financially Marginalized Communities: Strategies for Implementation of NEP 2020

The advent of the digital age has brought unprecedented opportunities for education, yet it has also exacerbated the digital divide, disproportionately affecting financially marginalized communities. This research paper delves into the intersection of the digital divide and financially marginalized communities within the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in India. The study investigates strategies for implementing NEP 2020 to bridge the digital gap and ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for these communities. Drawing upon existing literature and empirical evidence, this paper delineates the multifaceted nature of the digital divide, encompassing factors such as access to technology, digital literacy, and connectivity challenges faced by financially marginalized communities. It critically examines the provisions and objectives of NEP 2020 related to digital education, analyzing their potential to address the digital disparities among marginalized groups. Furthermore, this research scrutinizes innovative approaches and best practices for implementing digital initiatives under NEP 2020, including the deployment of digital infrastructure in underserved areas, tailored digital literacy programs, and community engagement strategies. It explores the role of government policies, private sector partnerships, and civil society initiatives in leveraging technology to empower financially marginalized communities in education. Additionally, the paper discusses the challenges and barriers hindering the effective implementation of digital inclusion strategies under NEP 2020, such as affordability issues, cultural barriers, and infrastructural limitations. Through a comprehensive analysis, this study aims to provide insights and recommendations for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to design and implement sustainable strategies for bridging the digital divide and fostering digital equity among financially marginalized communities in the context of NEP 2020.

Information Warfare as an Instrument of Geopolitical Influence on Ukraine: Main Aspects and The State's Response

The purpose of the article is to study information warfare as an instrument of geopolitical influence on Ukraine, the main aspects of this problem and certain elements of the Ukrainian side's response to the Kremlin regime's information attacks. To achieve this goal, the methods of comparison, analysis, synthesis and content analysis were used. The results indicate that the Russian side in the information warfare uses both traditional tools, such as the media, troll factories, bot factories, and fakes, and new technologies, such as deepfake. This arsenal is constantly evolving and adapting to technological advances. The Kremlin's main goal in the information warfare is to "undermine" Ukraine from within, creating the impression of close ties between Ukraine and Russia as a Eurasian state. Russian activities go beyond Ukraine, influencing public opinion in European countries, the United States and beyond. "Influence operations use social media platforms to spread individual narratives and sow hostility. To counter Russian influence, a program is being implemented to increase media literacy among the Ukrainian public. Ukrainian television companies are responding to the invasion by creating joint telethons that expand communication channels and counter disinformation. Individual tools, such as podcasts, are becoming important in countering disinformation. Ukrainian radio plays a key role in providing information in the occupied regions, and media literacy projects help to verify information and increase information literacy. Initiatives to develop media literacy and counter disinformation in Ukraine are widespread and effective. Results show that the level of resistance to propaganda has increased, and more than 70% of the population can recognize manipulative tactics. Government and civil society initiatives are working together to combat disinformation. Institutions such as the Center for Countering Disinformation and the Center for Strategic Communications are making an important contribution to the resilience of Ukrainian society.

Finding climate smart agriculture in civil-society initiatives

International civil society and non-government organisations (NGOs) play a role in implementing agricultural projects, which contribute to the mitigation, adaptation, and food security dimensions of climate-smart agriculture (CSA). Despite the growth of CSA, it remains unclear how CSA is designed, conceptualised, and embedded into agricultural development projects led and implemented by NGOs, creating a lack of clarity as to the direction of future of agricultural development interventions. This paper examines the extent to which development programmes from the NGO sector actively incorporate CSA principles to benefit smallholder farmers under the major pillars of CSA. Drawing from six projects’ documentation since 2009, we conducted a thematic analysis to reveal the alignment of projects with the pillars of CSA and discuss the extent to which CSA allows for localised adaptability given the diverse agricultural contexts in which civil society and NGOs work. We find that despite a lack of clarity in CSA definition and focus, the agricultural practices in the six projects make heterogenous contributions to the adoption of CSA principles. We illustrate the diversity of ways in which CSA is ‘done’ by a global NGO across six areas: greening and forests, practices and knowledge exchange, markets, policy and institutions, nutrition, carbon and climate, and gender. We discuss the need for balance in contextual adaptability across the three pillars of CSA with explicit consideration of trade-offs to reduce unintended outcomes from CSA initiatives. We conclude with reflections on the role of civil society and NGOs as boundary agents in the agricultural development sector.

Digital Rights to the City: Local Practices and Negotiations of Urban Space on Decidim

The organization, management, and production of urban space through digital information and communication technologies have become a central means for governing urban life. To overcome a lack of citizen-centered practices in today’s smart cities, governments and municipalities institutionalize citizen-centered digital infrastructures such as Decidim, a digital infrastructure proposing non-corporate, decentralized, and collaborative forms of digital production to evoke participatory governance practices and ultimately social transformation (Barandiaran et al., 2018). Swiss city administrations have adapted the Decidim platform for participatory budgeting processes and city-wide participation platforms since 2019. This article explores the process of institutional adoption, focusing on how the use of Decidim impacts local practices and negotiations for governing urban space. The examination of the Decidim platform in the Swiss cities of Zurich and Lucerne will be framed by re-conceptualizing Lefebvre’s right to the city in the age of digital transformation. The findings show that for a successful introduction of the Decidim platform based on principles of the right to the city (a) local needs for a new digital democratic instrument need to be pre-existent, (b) government employees must implement a scope of action which allows organized civil society and grassroots initiatives to appropriate the infrastructure for their own purposes, and (c) local practices of hybrid communication and organizing must be aligned with the structure of the platform. Nevertheless, digital participation tools such as Decidim cannot solve entrenched inequalities such as the financialization of land, the issue of disadvantaged neighborhoods, or the absence of voting rights for certain communities. Therefore, city administrations need to integrate hybrid participation strategies which prioritise collective power over distributive power as well as tackle urban inequalities through political means.

Review on Millets: A Sustainable Ancient Superfood for the Modern World

Millets are frequently referred to as "superfoods" or "nutricereals" because of their high nutritional content, ability to withstand climatic change, and reduced resource requirements when compared to other common grains. Millets have historically been consumed in larger quantities and are beneficial to diets worldwide, but both their cultivation and consumption are drastically reducing. To provide food and nutrition security, resource sustainability, and economic development, millet may be essential. Therefore, it is imperative to develop strategies aimed at reversing the global trends of declining millet production and consumption and raising consumer knowledge of the dietary and health benefits of millets. For thousands of years, millets, a class of small-seeded, nutrient-rich grains have been an essential part of human existence, particularly in Asia and Africa. Pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, Indian barnyard millet, kodo millet, tiny millet, and proso millet are the millets that are produced most widely around the world, especially in India. In Ayurveda, millets are explained under the Dhanya Varga and are known by the names Trina Dhanya, Kudhanya, and Kshudra Dhanya in different Samhitas. Furthermore, millets have long been employed by indigenous people as an ethnomedical and hunger-reduction tool. Since millets are usually grown on degraded, nutrient-deficient soil with little rainfall, they are an extremely resilient crop. Instead millets are high in dietary fibre, proteins, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and other nutrients, they are a cure-all for a wide range of illnesses. Due to shifting agro-climatic conditions that have resulted in a decrease in the yield of major staple grains, millets have emerged as a viable solution to address current issues in agriculture, food security, and public health. Millets have demonstrated excellent nutritional makeup and great adaptability. In light of government and civil society initiatives to promote millet farming in India, this review paper offers a succinct overview of millets, emphasising their historical significance, use in folklore, cultivation techniques, health benefits, and potential to contribute to sustainable farming systems and food security. For this study paper, a thorough review of numerous literatures, journals, published papers, and books was conducted.

Engagement of Local Government in Bulgaria with Air Pollution: The Role of Media and Civil Society in Sofia

Air pollution communication and engagement are vital on the road to solving this environmental and health problem. Three main groups tend to engage in it and communicate with citizens: civil society/non-governmental organizations (NGOs), media, and governments. This paper studies how these actors interact in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, as research on air pollution engagement on a city level in Eastern Europe is very limited. This article finds that a “bottom-up” model worked in air pollution engagement in Sofia. Civil society initiatives spark conversations with their actions and can create narratives for the media to cover. When the media started to cover the issue, more and more citizens became aware of it. Thus, pressure is put on local governments to also engage on the topic, with it being the last stakeholder to do so.

Illuminating practitioner challenges in energy transitions

Sustainable development (SD) is a concept that can be used to address complex challenges, including energy transitions. SD offers diverse strategies that provide useful direction in navigating tensions, trade-offs and synergies in energy transitions. The purpose of this research was to identify the challenges that energy practitioners are faced with in energy transitions and explore potential solutions. To achieve this purpose, we identified and explored the challenges faced by energy practitioners in Canada. Specifically, we conducted a survey of 34 energy practitioners from across Canada, as well as in-depth interviews with the Energy Futures Lab design team (which is a civil society initiative actively working on the energy transition in Canada).We identified the following challenges faced by energy practitioners in Canada: there is no simple, single solution for energy transitions; energy transitions have potentially conflicting considerations; energy systems have potentially conflicting goals; energy practitioners have different levels of trust and competencies in key actors; energy practitioners need to work across the political spectrum; and the costs and benefits of energy transitions are unevenly distributed. We discuss how the three strategies of SD (i.e., economic choice, political choice, social choice) could be applied to manage the intended and unintended tensions and trade-offs inherent in energy transitions. We conclude that the three SD strategies are not always equally valued by energy practitioners, but they have the potential to be useful in different energy transitions scenarios.

Addressing corruption through visual tools in India: the case of three civil society initiatives and their Facebook pages

In the past decades, several grassroots movement organisations across the world have tackled the issue of corruption with the aim of mobilising knowledge on this widespread problem. In our paper, we look at three bottom-up civil society organisations and collective actors fighting for greater transparency and curbing of corruption in Indian society, highlighting how they employ visuals to debate on these issues and to communicate their mission to their audiences. The focus is on how the initiatives employed visuals to discuss a particular anti-corruption policy of the central government. In particular, our paper sheds light on the dynamics between the three initiatives and the government especially at a time when democratic credentials of the country are in decline. Inspired by Rodriguez and Dimitrova’s four levels of visual framing, we propose a revised schema for visual framing analysis, taking into account contextual dimensions, in our study of visuals as tools enhancing public debates on corruption and anti-corruption practices.

MECHANISMS OF SOCIAL AND SOLIDARITY FINANCING IN THE MODERN ECONOMY

The article studies the essence and peculiarities of using social and solidarity financing mechanisms in the modern economy. The development of the social and solidarity economy, which balances the goals and priorities of sustainable development with the goals and values of the market economic system, raises the issue of financing organizations in this sector that do not always adhere to economically sustainable business models. Companies of the social and solidarity economy are a tool for forming a new and efficient system of the national economy, providing environmental protection, cultural development, education, healthcare, social security, implementation of civil society initiatives, etc. However, as they pursue primarily social rather than economic goals, the issues of their financial support and achieving financial sustainability in the long-term context are being raised. The article analyzes the transformation of social and solidarity financing mechanisms, defines their essence in the current context, and identifies the primary sources of social and solidarity financing by potential providers. The latter include individuals, participants, shareholders, other stakeholders, foundations and philanthropic organizations, financial intermediaries, and public authorities. The next stage of the study systematizes the main types of social and solidarity financing mechanisms in the modern economy, including traditional (donations, grants, loans, subsidies, etc.) and innovative forms (ethical, impact investing, tolerance capital, social stock exchanges, etc.). Based on the analysis, the authors substantiate the reasons for the growing role of social and solidarity financing in the modern business sector, which include an increase in demand for qualified personal and social services as a result of the long-term COVID-19 pandemic and Russian aggression in Ukraine; and the actualization of social inclusion issues due to the growing social inequality and uncertainty of specific population groups and the need for their social adaptation.

Civil Society and Municipal Activism Around Migration in the EU: A Multi-Scalar Alliance-Making

ABSTRACT Civil society and municipal actors – and the interaction between one another – have become increasingly relevant in EU migration governance. Moving from this understanding, this article explores instances of migration activism in connection with the proactive and contentious role of cities. It does so through the in-depth analysis of the dual EU-wide network From the Sea to the City/International Alliance of Safe Harbours, which gathers numerous civil society initiatives and municipalities and aims to achieve a radical change in EU migration policies. Based on extensive empirical research, my contribution illustrates why the emergence of a multi-scalar alliance between civil society and municipal actors around migration is the result of the interaction between the political agency of these actors and the changing institutional opportunities and constraints at different governance levels. In doing so, it explores different spatial and political dimensions, from cities to transnational arenas, reflecting on their significance in the construction of an EU-wide contentious politics of migration.