Nonprofit-government relations: The public policy and advocacy perspectives Content ̶Roles of CSOs ̶Government, Advocacy and Civil Society: Overview of the Government-Nonprofit Relations ̶Public policy perspective ̶Advocacy perspective 3 Civil society organizations ̶CSOs: non-state, non-for-profit groups that are separate from the state and the market ̶Non-profit organizations, interest groups, professional chambers, labor unions, social movements ̶NPOs: organizations that are privately incorporated, but serve some public purpose (social responsibility) 4 Nonprofit organizations in CZ ̶ Screenshot 2019-11-18 19.05.05.png 5 NPO in Brno ̶ C:\Users\368265\Desktop\nno-brno.PNG 6 Why are they important? 7 Functions of NPOs ̶Social capital (“the features of social organization, such as networks, norms, and trusts, that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit”) ̶Economic role ̶Religious role ̶Service ̶Policy (e.g. Implementing public policies) ̶Advocacy (e.g. Building up civic/civil society. Central to prosperous and successful democracies) ̶…Significant actors at global level (international perspective) 8 NPOs and government relations: Overview ̶Complex relationship based on different aspects: funding, tax policy and regulations towards NPOs, direct government support, non-monetary support, involvement in policy and advocacy activities, etc. ̶Dynamic relationship ̶Legal perspective ̶Public policy perspective ̶Advocacy perspective 9 Public policy perspective ̶Involvement of NPO in policy-making ̶One of principal functions of NP sector, major contribution to society, promoting common good ̶Pressuring government to respond to disadvantaged groups ̶Theoretical models: based on the character of relationship Weisbrod, 1988; Douglas, 1987; Salamon, 1995, 2002; Young, 2000; Najam, 2000 What is the character of relationship? •Substitute and supplement (Weisbrod, 1988; Douglas, 1987) •Complement (Salamon, 1995, 2002) •Adversary Nonprofit Sector Public Sector (Government) For-Profit Sector 11 Why should NPO participate in policies and policy-making? 12 Involvement of interest groups ̶Pros/benefits: ̶Strengthens representation ̶Public debate encouragement ̶Expanding the space for political participation ̶Barriers to abuse of power ̶Ensuring political stability ̶Cons/critique: ̶Lobbying = "buying" political influence ̶Consolidating political inequality ̶Failure to contribute to political integration ̶Exercising Illegitimate power ̶Tendency to "secrecy" in politics 13 Are major civil society organizations (CSOs) routinely consulted by policymakers on policies relevant to their members? ̶ 14 Advocacy perspective ̶Builds heavily on political sociology ̶CSOs crucial vehicles for advocacy and civic participation ̶CSOs = an opportunity for citizens to become engaged in politics ̶Investigates whether and how CSOs give citizens a voice for political participation, provide avenues for societal integration ̶ ̶1) Mediate and facilitate participation ̶2) Engage in public-interest advocacy activities 15 Social movement theory argument ̶Two sectors are deeply intertwined, but conflictual relationship with government ̶What are social movements? ̶How can we describe a government–nonprofit relationship from social movement perspective? 16 A cycle ̶1) First with private concerns, private action (informal, no legal status) ̶2) The movement may evolve into formal organizations – translates public concerns into public issues, lobby government ̶3) Successful SMO may influence government policy ̶4) Government responds ̶5) SMO addresses public issues again ̶ ̶ ̶ 17 CSOs during migration crisis •Refugees welcome movement (across Europe) •Appeal for humanity (Výzva k ľudskosti) (Slovakia) •Global Migration Journey: #sharethejourney •… 19 20 Public interest advocacy ̶NPO’s crucial civic function: to “correct imbalanced political representation by ensuring that a broader set of interests are voiced” (Jenkins, 2006) ̶Goal: To influence government decisions; to shape the policies of private institutions and corporations; or to encourage political participation ̶ 21 What are reasons to advocate? ̶ Reasons to advocate •Focusing public attention on key social problems and solutions •Increasing the base of knowledge on which innovative policy is formed •Policymakers need expertise •Ensuring access for new and unheard voices •Fostering governmental accountability to citizens •Promoting democratic values (freedom of expression, pluralism, ...) •Giving citizens a personal sense of civic skills in the democratic process (can make a difference, can change laws) •The views of local nonprofits are important 23 Challenges for (some) CSOs’ activities ̶Negative framing of civil society organizations and NPOs (mostly dealing with human rights or minority issues) by political elites ̶Worsening public image (mostly Central and Eastern Europe) ̶„Agents of neomarxims“ and liberalism (populist discourse) ̶Tools of foreign interests (Soros and „his plan“) – e.g. CEU Uni ̶In Czech context: „ngo-ism“ (Václav Klaus) ̶Declining civic engagement 24 Public image of CSOs Source: 2017 CSO Sustainability Index 25 Trust in NPOs (CZE) ̶ CSOs responses •Have had to become more sophisticated •Created more complex organizational structures •Taken advantage of new technologies – Internet activism fundamentally altered civic participation and advocacy •Invested in effective research •Increasingly turned to collaborations, including some with business organizations Citizen Lobbying: How Your Skills Can Fix Democracy By Alberto Alemanno (at TEDxBrussels) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqNf2OPdu8c Going the Digital Route By Marci Harris, a former congressional staffer, founded Popvox, a non-partisan platform to engage digitally with Congress https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aKyYR-iWpc Advocacy Through Social Media: Why Trending Topics Matter By Karen McAlister (at TEDxUTA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4sGLLaLq-Q Thank you for your attention