Role Of Civil Society Research Articles

The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Corporate Accountability for International Crimes

The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Corporate Accountability for International Crimes

Empowering change: The crucial role of civil society in climate change mitigation

Empowering change: The crucial role of civil society in climate change mitigation

Safeguarding South African schools: Civil society action against alcohol sales in educational settings

The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) in South Africa vehemently opposed Clause 8 of the Basic Education Legislation Amendment Bill (BELA) allowing alcohol sales at schools. This stance was grounded in the 2016 National Liquor Policy, advocating for distance between schools and liquor outlets. SAAPA's multifaceted approach included engaging government, experts, media advocacy, social mobilisation, and active participation in the legislative process. Their efforts, culminating in over 5000 submissions and an oral presentation, led to the removal of Clause 8 in September 2023. This success underscores the pivotal role of civil society in shaping evidence-based policies for public health and child welfare.

Alcohol policy development in Sierra Leone: An assessment of the role of civil society

Objective: To assess the value addition of civil society collaboration with Government in the development of Sierra Leone’s National Alcohol Policy (NAP). Policy Development Process: We reviewed the entire process of lobby, advocacy, and support for the development of the NAP from 2015 when the Siera Leone Alcohol Policy Alliance (SLAPA) was formed to the launch of the NAP in 2023. It also assesses the level of collaboration between FoRUT, SLAPA and Ministry of Health of Health and Sanitation (MoHS). The MoHS coordinated the policy formulation process with substantive technical support from civil society. Results: The quality of the NAP was rated high as it reflected appropriate policy areas and interventions from the Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, the WHO SAFER initiative, and the Global Action Plan for Alcohol Control (202-2030). The NAP is a solid reference material for the development of a new alcohol bill. MoHS recognized FoRUT and SLAPA as the national champions for alcohol control in the country. FoRUT, directly and through SLAPA influenced the process of developing the NAP and its quality through advocacy, collaboration and technical and financial support. Conclusions: The development of the NAP in Sierra Leone truly reflects civil society-government collaboration, built on mutual trust and a common health and development agenda. Connecting national level lobby and advocacy with regional global advocacy actions to prioritize, influence, support, and monitor the alcohol control agenda is a critical catalyst for civil society to advancing the development of NAPs.

Navigating governance with sticks, carrots, and sermons: Paving paths for sustainable development goals through local spatial planning

AbstractThe 2030 Agenda underscores the vital role of local authorities and civil society in implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Aligning with this agenda, the EU's spatial development framework imparts normative values, emphasizing sustainable territorial development, participatory governance, and multi‐level cooperation. This framework serves as a potential facilitator for spatial planning to ensure policy coherence in SDG implementation. Despite its potential, mainstreaming the 2030 Agenda through spatial planning encounters challenges, particularly navigating unresolved tensions between global SDG formulation and local ownership. These challenges are accentuated in countries with conformative planning systems and weak governance structures, requiring a specific methodological approach. To address these complexities, this study investigates the opportunities for leveraging SDGs within the multi‐level governance arena of spatial planning. Employing mixed quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods in a local planning context, the research explores key concerns arising from regional, national, and EU spatial development policies. The study delves into their potential leverage capacity for guiding and funding SDGs within a specific local context. Results suggest that using different policy mechanisms, spatial planning can better address the holistic nature of the 2030 Agenda. Although not all SDGs can be leveraged, a substantial part can be addressed whenever a broader multi‐level governance perspective is considered within local planning contexts.

PARTNERSHIP INTERACTION OF THE STATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY AS A MECHANISM FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UKRAINE'S HUMANITARIAN POLICY IN THE CONDITIONS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

The article represents an attempt to analyze the landscape of partnership between government and civil society within the implementation of humanitarian policy in Ukraine and EU. Theoretical provisions of such partnerships are presented, and real state-of-the art in humanitarian space of the USA, EU, and Ukraine is investigated. Particularly, the phenomenon of precariat is considered through the lens of its role for civil society’ stability and designing effective humanitarian policies to improve social capital.

Review of the book „Statutul juridic și rolul organizaţiilor nonguvernamentale în guvernările democratice” [The legal status and role of non-governmental organizations in democratic governments], Author – Ciprian Gabriel Ungureanu, LUMEN Publishing, Iasi, 2024

The present article represents a book review of the volume „Statutul juridic și rolul organizaţiilor nonguvernamentale în guvernările democratice” [The legal status and role of non-governmental organizations in democratic governments], authored by Ciprian Gabriel Ungureanu, published byLumen Publishing, in 2024. The work of the author Ciprian Gabriel Ungureanu reflects the concerns for the regulation of constitutional law analyzed through the lens of domestic law and the applicable comparative law in this field. His volume highlights the study of some aspects related to the role and functions of civil society, the organizational forms of civil society, the legal status of non-governmental organizations and the comparable element of non-governmental organizations in Romania and the Republic of Moldova (Ungureanu, 2015).

Penanaman Budaya Anti Korupsi Dalam Rangka Penanggulangan Korupsi Di Indonesia

Corruption is like a cancer that eats away at the Indonesian nation, hampering progress and eroding public trust. Efforts to overcome this require a comprehensive approach, one of which is by instilling an anti-corruption culture. This journal examines the importance of instilling an anti-corruption culture as a strategic solution in fighting corruption in Indonesia. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive analytical approach. Data was collected through literature studies of books, scientific journals and other trusted sources. An anti-corruption culture is an important foundation for building a dignified and just nation. Efforts to instill this must be carried out systematically and sustainably, Including anti-corruption education in the school and college curriculum. Instilling the values ​​of honesty, integrity and responsibility from an early age in the family. Building an environment that supports an anti-corruption culture through the active role of civil society and organizations social.Instilling an anti-corruption culture is a crucial step in efforts to eradicate corruption in Indonesia. Success requires strong commitment and cooperation from all parties, including the government, educational institutions, families and society.

Learning from Civil Society Actors in Turkey: Using Transitional Justice in an Ongoing Conflict

ABSTRACT∞ This article examines the role of civil society in the implementation of transitional justice in Turkey’s ongoing Kurdish conflict, which is characterized by historical state violence and a lack of official transitional justice processes. Drawing on 24 interviews, the research reveals the evolution of civil society engagement from its peak during the 2013–2015 peace process to its decline under increasing authoritarianism. The research argues that, despite challenges, civil society retains the potential to drive incremental change in the absence of formal transitional justice mechanisms. However, the authoritarian regime has significantly curtailed its capacity, creating a limited civic space for transitional justice. The article highlights the need for stronger links between civil society in Turkey and international transitional justice scholarship. Such collaboration could empower activists, enabling them to overcome challenges and increase their effectiveness. Turkey offers a unique case for transitional justice scholars and practitioners to learn from civil society actors committed to pursuing justice.

Civil society and populism in Europe: outbreak or cure?

ABSTRACT Scholarly debates on the links between the rise of populist parties, leaders, and movements and the role of civil society are growing and increasingly fascinating. However, this is one of the areas within ‘populism studies’ that has received less attention. Exploring the links between populism and civil society opens up space for many possible avenues of research, rooted in different research traditions. This special issue, with a total of 10 papers, aims to deepen this increasingly important line of research, highlighting both lesser-described forms and examples of populism as well as dominant forms of populism in Europe, such as right-wing or left-wing populism. In this introduction, we aim to (1) outline the various links between populism and civil society and place them in the context of populism studies, and (2) summarise the papers in this issue and their main findings.

Praktik Sosial Women Crisis Center (WCC) Nurani Perempuan Membangun Kolaborasi dengan Stakeholder

The alarming violence against women (KBG) in Indonesia requires the role of civil society to prevent and overcome it. Women Crisis Center Nurani Perempuan is a civil society organization (NGO) that works specifically to protect women and children from various acts of gender-based violence in West Sumatra Province. However, NGOs as non-profit institutions have challenges in terms of limited resources. This requires NGOs to collaborate with multi-stakeholders so that the implementation of case handling can run effectively. Unfortunately, the efforts of NGOs in attracting the attention of stakeholders in order to collaborate are still poorly studied. Thus, the presence of this study aims to describe the social practices of Women's Conscience to build collaboration with stakeholders, through identifying the activities carried out and what habituses are owned by staff and volunteers of Women's Conscience which enables them to build collaboration with stakeholders in efforts to protect women victims of KBG in West Sumatra. This research uses Bourdieu's theory and qualitative research methods. The results of this research show that there are five areas that are the focus of Women's Conscience in seeking to build collaboration, namely the provincial government, city government, police, community domain and the realm of providing and servicing safe houses. Activities to build collaboration in this domain are generally carried out through advocacy activities by analyzing opportunities owned by stakeholders, conducting face-to-face meetings and participating in multistakeholder discussions, and fulfilling all series of administrative requirements in the realm of government. The habitus of staff and volunteers also affects stakeholder involvement, such as having a high volunteer spirit, upholding accountability and always being committed as friends of women who are victims of KBG in West Sumatra. Staff and volunteers utilize network capital, which enables Nurani Perempuan to collaborate with stakeholders in the protection of women victims of KBG in West Sumatra.

Women and Peace Theory and Civil Conflict Intensity

Do improved women’s descriptive representation in legislative branches and women’s participation in civil society decrease the intensity of civil conflicts? Is the impact of women’s presence in legislative branches on the conflict intensity magnified by women’s participation in civil society, and vice versa? In this study, we aim to expand the constructivist argument that equal gender roles in politics and civil society can bring about less intensive internal armed conflicts. Relying on time-series cross-national data on 151 countries from 1960 to 2016, we demonstrate that the increases in women’s descriptive representation in parliaments and women’s participation in civil society tend to decrease the predicted civil conflict intensity. In addition, we demonstrate that the deterrent effect of women’s descriptive representation is magnified by women’s participation in civil society and vice versa. These findings remain consistent in alternative model specifications with additional women-related control variables.

The Role of Civil Society in Preventing Children from Smoking at Malaysia

The Role of Civil Society in Preventing Children from Smoking at Malaysia

Socioeconomic and political settings for the land development decreasing urban green. Inside view from Moscow

The analysis shows the impact of socioeconomic factors and civil freedom on allocating green areas for investments. The research was conducted for the period 1992–2020 using the example of Moscow as the metropolis in a country with a robust centralized political system. Quantitative research methods included recognizing changes in land use, selected socioeconomic parameters, and indicators measuring the power of civil society. Calculated correlations and modeling of the collected data were used to identify Russia's revenue for petroleum and Moscow's budget revenue as predictors for losing green areas. Among the social activity indicators, the Press Freedom indicator was the best correlated and used for modeling. The analysis of the decision-making procedure for land development and the reconstruction of the case Krylatskie Kholmy allowed gaining insight into actual mechanisms leading to investment in urban green areas. The outcomes that were reachedexpress that investing in bare soils is of the most significant importance; however, the dynamics of change decreased in the analyzed period. The modeling showed that growing Russia's revenue for petroleum increases the likelihood of greenfield investment. The legal nature-protection status brings the most significant effect of preventing land development. The likelihood of land development decreases with the growth of Moscow's budget revenue. It indicates the support for the redevelopment of abounded land located within the range of the existing infrastructure. The modeling of the dependence between the Press Freedom index and land development probability demonstrates the possible effectiveness of public opinion pressure to protect natural and semi-natural areas within the urban fabric. The described decision-making mechanism for land development made it possible to assess that the role of civil society in the decision-making process is insufficient, given the converging interests of investors and administration. The results show that in highly centralized countries with a marginal role of civil society, the concentration of capital from the export of strategic natural resources is the key factor of urban green losses. These findings contribute to understanding differences in urban spatial policy approaches to green areas and their effectiveness.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

The article outlines the ways of engaging young people in the development of civil society in Ukraine. Socially and politically active young people are one of the necessary conditions for forming a democratic society and establishing sustainable and functioning civil society institutions. Therefore, in this paper, the scholars aim to identify the ways of youth interaction with public authorities in Ukraine and general levels of youth civic engagement, as well as to characterize the culture of citizenship as a factor in involving young people in civil society development. The research reveals the relevant issue regarding the prominent role of civil society in various spheres of activity of state authorities and local self-government bodies, a qualitatively new level of interaction between civil society, especially youth as an active part of it, and state and local self-government bodies in order to establish effective dialogue and partnership relations of state bodies authorities, local self-government bodies with civil society organizations.
 The research combined interdisciplinary approaches of several related scientific fields (political science, public administration and education), which allowed to set broader goals and find new ways for improving youth engagement in the development of civil society in Ukraine. The authors developed and conducted an expert survey on youth engagement in the development of civil society and identified possible ways to improve youth participation in public and political life. Authors interviewed 24 experts aged from 18 to 60 years from various fields who are interested in building a democratic state governed by the rule of law: leaders and members of public organizations, teachers of higher education institutions, scholars, deputies of regional and local councils, civil society activists and businessmen.
 It was determined that the effective participation of youth in decision-making processes consists in creating opportunities to involve youth in influencing, shaping, developing and promoting policy and development of services and programs. These opportunities are created by developing a range of formal and informal mechanisms for youth participation, from youth advisory groups to focus groups, from ongoing consultation work to supporting youth projects. As a result of the study, the authors developed a set of conclusions and recommendations addressed to educational institutions, public authorities, local governments and civil society organizations.

Agents of platform governance: Analyzing U.S. civil society's role in contesting online content moderation

This paper examines the role of civil society in shaping content moderation governance arrangements in the United States. Drawing on prior research that recognizes the importance of civil society in shaping policy, this article analyzes the experiences of civil society practitioners engaged in content moderation activism. Based on in-depth original interviews with civil society practitioners, I demonstrate how civil society's activity in this space aligns with known regulatory standard-setting process competencies and suggest advocacy work benefits from the power of coalition lobbying and social capital. Moreover, I highlight the sense of frustration from some practitioners that they are not compensated by firms for their monitoring and reporting work that improves platforms' products, and I offer preliminary reasons for why practitioners contest moderation norms. The paper's insights contribute to the study of platform governance by illuminating informal mechanisms utilized by civil society, which holds broader implications for understanding the dynamics of non-state actors in shaping online platforms and their policies.

Indikasi Kegagalan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan dari Implementasi Program CSR

The presence of multinational companies entering Indonesia has both positive and negative impacts on the communities around the company. The positive impacts that arise include the emergence of new jobs, new economic growth. The negative impacts that arise include environmental damage, pockets of poverty, crime and others. Efforts made by the company to reduce the negative impacts resulting from company activities through CSR programs. The CSR program run by the company adheres to a sustainable development approach where the company's activities do not interfere with the continuity of life for the next generation. A popular approach is the triple bottom line, namely a balance between people, planet and profit. In reality, the activities carried out through the CSR program have not had a positive impact on society, in fact there are still many negative impacts. This article attempts to examine why the implementation of CSR carried out by companies has not been able to provide positive results to society, especially in sustainable development efforts, what factors are behind sustainable development not being realized. The research method usesSystematic Literature Review (SLR). The results and discussion are that the existence of multinational companies in Indonesia in processing natural resource wealth does have big implications. The CSR concept that is developing with the idea of ​​sustainable development is a breath of fresh air in the development of this nation. But in reality, the CSR program that was implemented then fell short of expectations. The sustainable development campaign promoted by the company in the form of CSR is still limited to perpetuating the company's interests. The idea of ​​strong capitalism by multinational companies must be controlled by this country, especially the role of government and civil society.

Authoritarianism and civil society in Central Asia: Shifting boundaries

ABSTRACT The traditional narrative on state-civil society relations in the consolidated authoritarian regimes of Central Asia is one of coercion with little room for independent NGOs which challenge the states’ discourse. There is however emerging evidence of a gradual shift in relationships. First, the distinction between independent organizations (NGOs) and government organized bodies (GONGOs) is becoming blurred as the former struggle to remain financially buoyant and the latter find (limited) opportunities to influence the state. Second, the role played by international donors in authoritarian regimes is fraught with obstacles/resistance making internal civil society organizations more self-reliant and the state grants’ application process more competitive. Third, the context is changing with a younger more assertive generation willing to challenge the vestiges of the Soviet era. Using Kazakhstan as a Central Asian case study, this article finds there is an increasing role for civil society along an NGO-GONGO continuum aimed at ‘challenging existing realities’ even within the parameters of authoritarian states.

Reducing Discordant Religious Relationships: Ahmadiyya Case in Indonesia

The Ahmadiyya have been labeled as a controversial religious group by the majority of Indonesians. Its inclusion as a component of religious diversity is regarded as a trumping-up divergence. This research aims to analyze the reasons for hostility toward the Ahmadiyya through a review journal, historical storytelling, and exposure to empirical facts, and to provide recommendations for reducing discord and improving relations between different religious groups. The article investigates the role of state law, religious authority, and civil society in shaping attitudes toward Ahmadiyya Muslims, as well as strategies for promoting interfaith dialogue and tolerance. Overall, the article argues that it is critical to promote mutual respect and understanding among religious communities in order to reduce conflict and promote social harmony in Indonesia.

The influence of civil society institutions on the fiscal policy of the state

This article is devoted to the analysis of the influence of civil society institutions on fiscal policy in the Russian Federation. The paper examines the structure of civil society in Russia, examines the place and role of its various institutions (primarily the institute of public control) in the system of legal guarantees for the implementation and protection of both the system of constitutional principles and the system of human and civil rights and freedoms, the rights and legitimate interests of public associations, as well as other non–governmental non-profit organizations. The article analyzes the essence and content of the fiscal policy of the state, its place and role in the state policy of the Russian Federation. The paper examines the main factors influencing the formation and development of the fiscal policy of the Russian state. This article uses a number of scientific research methods: formal-logical; historical-legal; comparative-legal; statistical; sociological; method of analyzing specific legal situations. The authors analyzed various approaches to defining the concepts of civil society and fiscal policy of the state, developed and justified the author's definitions of these concepts. The paper substantiates the role of civil society in the system of factors determining the directions of development of the fiscal policy of the Russian Federation. The article analyzes the main directions of the impact of various civil society institutions on the formation and development of the fiscal policy of the Russian Federation. The paper formalizes and explores the main problems that hinder the optimization of the processes of influence of civil society institutions on the processes of formation and development of the fiscal policy of the Russian state. The authors have developed and substantiated a system of measures to resolve these problems aimed both at the development of Russian civil society as a whole and at optimizing fiscal policy in the Russian Federation.