Original scientific paper

Impact of Civil Society Organizations in Croatia

Gojko Bežovan

Abstract

In this paper we present findings on the perceived impact of civil society on the several stages of the public policy process, namely agenda-setting, policy- making, policy-implementation and policy-monitoring of CIVICUS Index of Civil Society Project in Croatia. According to the survey, civil society organisations (CSOs) only partially succeed in representing their constituents’ interests and putting these interests on the public policy agenda. Linked to this finding, representatives of civil society are rarely invited to participate in the generation and discussion of legislation. Legislation, vital to the interests of CSOs, is most often passed without their involvement. Civil society’s participation in the generation and discussion of legislation is only recently being recognised as important by CSOs in Croatia. Generally, it can be said that CSOs have no impact on government’s policy. Within the impact dimension the indicators measuring successful co-operation of CSOs with government in implementing policies is at the lowest level. Government people do not trust capacity of CSOs and they see them like artificial institutions. CSOs are also not very successful in monitoring government commitments and policies. This area of activities requires a lot of additional effort and mutual understanding. CSOs have been presented in a rather unfavourable way by the mass media and have also not attracted enough media attention with respect to their contribution to society. These findings are related to a not very respectable public image of civil society organisations. CSOs are seen as succeeding in improving the lives of the people they are working with i.e. users of their services. They also are considered as successful in benefiting the public good. In contrast to the positive contribution in creating public good, they are less successful in mobilising the disadvantaged groups in society to take part in public life. Most of these groups have a passive position, being a scope of activities and interest of different organisations and initiatives.

Keywords

ORGANISATIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY; CIVIL SOCIETY; IMPACT; INDEX OF CIVIL SOCIETY; CROATIA

Hrčak ID:

14495

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/14495

Publication date:

31.12.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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