Naslov
Local Civil Society in Croatia – Its Structure and Perspectives in the Context of Europeanization

Autori
Kovačić, Marko

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
Social, Political and Economic Change in the Western Balkans

Mjesto i datum
Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina, 24.05.2012. - 27.05.2012

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
local civil society ; Croatia ; europeanization

Sažetak
All relevant research show the importance of local civil society in the development of certain local place. Civil society is the arena of active citizens where they freely participate, express their fears, wishes, satisfactions, and organize actions for increasing their rights and in that way influence politics, policies and polity. There are several possible functions (representation, subsidiarity, watchdog, socialization) that civil society can have in the community and a success of political and social development partially depends on the effectiveness in fulfillment of those tasks. In other words, if civil society is vibrant, well developed and responsive, the level of development will be higher due to its impact on formal politics. In Croatia local civil society is weak, underdeveloped and less structured than on the national level. This paper analyses reasons for that. By determining the structure of local civil society and identification of the main ideas and mechanisms of local CSOs, I will present a comprehensive analysis of Croatian local civil society and offer policy recommendations for its development. Hence, I will analyze mechanisms that help strengthening of local civil society in order to increase welfare and prosperity in local community in Croatia in detail. The second part of the paper will link European policies regarding regional development with the Croatian case in order to see whether the current status of local civil society is compatible with the European tendencies in that area. The process of Europeanization can help the consolidation of local civil society but it needs to be supported by relevant actors. This paper will show that serious structured policies for the development of local civil society in Croatia are necessary but they are not sufficient. Networking and coordination between civil society organizations are crucial for the fulfillment of all potentials of local civil society.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Politologija

POVEZANOST RADA