Dealing with volatile political structures

Author(s): Julie Ferguson
Publication date: Wednesday 20 October 2004

When CSO's want to exert influence on state policy they need formal power/ state structures/ institutions to address themselves to. Is it true (paper Sogge), that there is a need for a "strong state' to be in place for civil (society) voices to be heard? Where states are weak, unstable or recovering from conflict formal power structures are absent or at least very slippery and volatile. How does CSB work in such conditions?

In Latin America we have seen many regime changes, which make it difficult for CS actors to get a grip on formal power structures. Political parties have become more and more irrelevant: populist movements with charismatic leaders, often without a programme, take their place. Crisis in political society. What methods do Hivos partners (and others) apply in such a situation, to ensure their voice is heard? The influence of classic interest groups such as farmer’s unions has diminished, but they still have regional and conjunctural (?) influence, although not everywhere. Why this difference?

Which alternative strategies can we identify and support to ensure interests of people are well-represented, within this crisis in political society?