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Early-Responding Civil Society and a Late Coming State: Findings from Turkey during the Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Doğan Erhan

    (Political Science and International Relations, Marmara Universitesi, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey)

  • Genç H Deniz

    (Political Science and International Relations, Istanbul Medipol University, Göztepe Mah Atatürk Cad, No. 40/16, Beykoz, 34815, Istanbul, Turkey)

Abstract

By building on available literature and interview notes with the NGOs working mainly on refugees and irregular migrants, this study examines the experiences of civil society in Turkey in the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the main findings is that NGOs responded quite early and with agility to the sufferings of people before the state entered into the field and implemented its own rules and methods to deal with the crisis. The study also reveals that the pandemic affected the focus of the NGOs, their services, finances, and working methods in the field. The organizations we examined adapted to a new online working environment which increased demand for their services and aggravated difficulties in assuring clients access to needed healthcare services. The study finds that relations with the local and central governments remain difficult, and during the pandemic, the NGOs were compelled to act very cautiously. While suffering from their society’s political polarization, they report that xenophobia continues to rise and has been worsened by the impact of the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Doğan Erhan & Genç H Deniz, 2021. "Early-Responding Civil Society and a Late Coming State: Findings from Turkey during the Pandemic," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 127-146, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:nonpfo:v:12:y:2021:i:1:p:127-146:n:10
    DOI: 10.1515/npf-2020-0049
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anheier, Helmut K., 2017. "Civil society challenged: Towards an enabling policy environment," Economics Discussion Papers 2017-45, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    2. 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.
    3. Paul Kubicek, 2002. "The Earthquake, Civil Society, and Political Change in Turkey: Assessment and Comparison with Eastern Europe," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 50(4), pages 761-778, September.
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