Introduction

Author(s): Julie Ferguson
Publication date: Tuesday 27 September 2005

In December 2004, development agency Hivos and the Institute for Social Studies (ISS) launched a partnership to expand and share knowledge on civil society building in developing countries. The network kicked off with a two-day seminar, bringing together Hivos staff and counterparts, ISS researchers and students, and the broader community of development thinkers and practitioners. Together, the 150 participants explored strategies used by civil society organisations in various political contexts with the aim of influencing and strengthening the performance and responsiveness of the state.

Although the role of the nation state in many instances seems to be diminishing by ongoing globalisation processes, the state is still a crucial actor for the reduction of poverty and inequality. Many civil society organisations consider the core of their work as influencing governmental policies, in order to enhance democratic governance and press for a more just distribution of resources and services, and a redistribution of power.

In states characterised by conflicts, corruption and/or a lack of democratic governance, as in many developing countries, activities initiated by civil society actors often have very limited effects or are even completely neutralised. Moreover, civil society groups (often supported by donor funding) sometimes even further marginalise the role of the state by taking over state responsibilities, for example in service delivery. A democratic and responsive state is generally more conducive to the emergence of a strong and flourishing civil society.

The nature of ‘associational space’ has become more contested than ever. Partners in that space, including NGOs, social movements, trade unions, human rights’ groups and many others, are restrained by omnipotent power structures – including the state – that keep them from playing their roles. There must emerge recognition of the legitimacy of competition for values in that space. What strategies can civil society organisations (CSOs) harness, to counter these adverse conditions and enhance the conditions for effective engagement with the state?

This report explores strategies employed by civil society organisations to influence and strengthen the performance and responsiveness of the state. What works under which conditions, what are the opportunities and which risks do they entail? Can we find common processes in countries from different regions? Which variables seem to be of influence under similar conditions? And how can outside organisations such as Hivos improve their support to civil society organisations in engaging the state?

By addressing these issues, we have also identified a number of priority themes in civil society building for the Knowledge Sharing Network, with the aim to translate these into possible research agendas and policy priorities.

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