Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v10i1.138
Legal, Political and Cultural Framework for Civil Society Development in Croatia
Gojko Bežovan
; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
The paper deals with the results of research on the space: legal, political and socio-cultural environment for civil society development in Croatia. The research is a part of the international project CIVICUS-Index of Civil Society. In this research, civil society has been defined as the sphere of institutions, organisations, networks and individuals (and their values) located between the family, the state and the market, connected with a series of civil rules they share and in which people associate voluntarily to advocate common interests. The changing of legal environment for registration and activities of civil society organisations was a slow and long-lasting process. The paper analyses the process of passing the Law on Associations. The Constitutional Court ruled 16 provisions of this Law unconstitutional. The change of the government in the beginning of 2000 brought favourable environment for the registration and activities of civil society organisations. Political environment for civil society development in Croatia is burdened with distrust toward civil society organisations and the ambition of previous government to control their activities. Socio-cultural environment is conditioned by the inherited tradition of low level of citizens' engagement in the problems in communities and in society. In the conditions of low level of social capital, it is not possible to expect a more significant impact of civil society. Future longitudinal researches of this type will provide more information on the dynamics of the space for civil society development in Croatia.
Keywords
civil society; associations; foundations; registration; freedom of association; civic engagement
Hrčak ID:
30134
URI
Publication date:
1.1.2003.
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