Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.3935/zpfz.76.2.1

Government–Nonprofit Sector Relationship in Croatia: A Thorny Road

Danijel Baturina orcid.org/0000-0002-9063-305X ; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Matančević orcid.org/0000-0003-2807-133X ; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Gojko Bežovan ; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to analyse the relationship between the nonprofit sector and the government in Croatia 1990–2020, by employing Young’s typology of the government–nonprofit relationships. Based on a secondary data analysis, the paper provides historical overview, description and analysis of the development of the nonprofit sector and its relationship with the government. The paper proposes three periods of government–nonprofit relationship: first, 1990–1999, started with the economic and political transformation, coupled with the Homeland war; second, years 2000–2012, marked by intense building of institutions and policy frameworks for supporting nonprofit sector development, and third 2013–2020, marked by Europeanisation and new financial opportunities for NPOs. The paper argues that the Croatian case is characterized by a complex coexistence of all three of Young’s models, and by a nonlinear and path-dependent relationship development.

Keywords

nonprofit sector; civil society; government–nonprofit relationship; policy impact; Europeanisation

Hrčak ID:

349595

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/349595

Publication date:

21.7.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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