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Contested Civic Spaces in Liberal Democracies

Author

Listed:
  • Strachwitz Rupert Graf

    (Director, Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society, Berlin, Germany)

  • Toepler Stefan

    (Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, USA)

Abstract

In this introductory essay for the special issue on contested spaces in liberal democracies, we review how and to what extent the closing or shrinking space debate that has influenced the civil society discourse in authoritarian contexts presents an appropriate mode of analysis for similar, disconcerting developments that have been observed in liberal democracies. In particular, recent changes in Germany, Austria, Israel, and Greece are covered in this issue. We suggest that while shrinking space mechanisms are observable, civil society is nevertheless experiencing new activism and growth. In contrast to authoritarian regimes, spaces in liberal democracies are increasingly contested reflecting both a politization of issues that nonprofits, NGOs or CSOs are working on, such as migration and climate change, but also a new civic agency that expands the political dimensions of civil society, embracing its more political functions beyond traditional service delivery.

Suggested Citation

  • Strachwitz Rupert Graf & Toepler Stefan, 2022. "Contested Civic Spaces in Liberal Democracies," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 13(3), pages 179-193, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:nonpfo:v:13:y:2022:i:3:p:179-193:n:2
    DOI: 10.1515/npf-2022-0026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barreto César & Berbée Paul & Gallegos Torres Katia & Lange Martin & Sommerfeld Katrin, 2022. "The Civic Engagement and Social Integration of Refugees in Germany," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 13(2), pages 161-174, April.
    2. Anheier, Helmut K. & Lang, Markus & Toepler, Stefan, 2019. "Civil society in times of change: Shrinking, changing and expanding spaces and the need for new regulatory approaches," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 13, pages 1-27.
    3. Dupuy, Kendra & Ron, James & Prakash, Aseem, 2016. "Hands Off My Regime! Governments’ Restrictions on Foreign Aid to Non-Governmental Organizations in Poor and Middle-Income Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 299-311.
    4. Kendra Dupuy & Luc Fransen & Aseem Prakash, 2021. "Restricting NGOs: From Pushback to Accommodation," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 12(S5), pages 5-10, July.
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