scholarly journals Interest Groups, NGOs or Civil Society Organisations? The Framing of Non-State Actors in the EU

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas J. Schoenefeld
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Third Sector Organisations ◽  
Academic Publications ◽  
State Actors ◽  
Number Of Publications ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Scholars have used varying terminology for describing non-state entities seeking to influence public policy or work with the EU’s institutions. This paper argues that the use of this terminology is not and should not be random, as different ‘frames’ come with different normative visions about the role(s) of these entities in EU democracy. A novel bibliometric analysis of 780 academic publications between 1992 and 2020 reveals that three frames stand out: The interest group frame, the NGO frame, as well as the civil society organisation frame; a number of publications also use multiple frames. This article reveals the specific democratic visions contained in these frames, including a pluralist view for interest groups; a governance view for NGOs as ‘third sector’ organisations, and participatory and deliberative democracy contributions for civil society organisations. The use of these frames has dynamically changed over time, with ‘interest groups’ on the rise. The results demonstrate the shifting focus of studies on non-state actors in the EU and consolidation within the sub-field; the original visions of European policy-makers emerging from the 2001 White Paper on governance may only partially come true.

scholarly journals Developing the evidence base for evaluating dementia training in NHS hospitals (DEMTRAIN): a mixed-methods study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e030739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faraz Ahmed ◽  
Hazel Morbey ◽  
Andrew Harding ◽  
David Reeves ◽  
Caroline Swarbrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Third Sector ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Programme Theory ◽  
Process Measures ◽  
Medicine Research ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Acute Hospitals ◽  
Third Sector Organisations ◽  
Academic Publications ◽  
The Uk

IntroductionAround 70% of acute hospital beds in the UK are occupied by older people, approximately 40% of whom have dementia. Improving the quality of care in hospitals is a key priority within national dementia strategies. Limited research has been conducted to evaluate dementia training packages for staff, and evaluation of training often focuses on immediate, on-the-day training feedback and effects.ObjectivesOur study aims to answer two research questions: (1) How do variations in content, implementation and intensity of staff dementia training in acute hospitals in England relate to health service outcome/process measures and staff outcomes? and (2) What components of staff dementia training are most strongly related to improved patient and staff outcomes?Methods and analysisUsing the principles of programme theory, a mixed-method study will be used to identify mechanisms and the interactions between them, as well as facilitators and barriers to dementia training in hospitals. We will use existing data, such as Hospital Episode Statistics, alongside two surveys (at hospital and staff level).We will recruit up to 193 acute hospitals in England to participate in the hospital level survey. We aim to recruit up to 30 staff members per hospital, from a random sample of 24 hospitals. In addition, we will explore the cost-effectiveness of dementia training packages and carry out an in-depth case study of up to six hospitals.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been reviewed and approved by the Faculty of Health and Medicine Research Ethics Committee (FHMREC 17056) and Health Research Authority (Integrated Research Approval System (IRAS) ID 242166: REC reference 18/HRA/1198). We plan to develop both standard (eg, academic publications, presentations at conferences) and innovative (eg, citizen scientist web portals, online fora, links with hospitals and third sector organisations) means of ensuring the study findings are accessible and disseminated regionally, nationally and internationally.

scholarly journals Gender equality in European Union development policy: incorporating women’s voices or confirming hierarchies?

Afrika Focus ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Debusscher
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Development Aid ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Eu

This paper examines gender mainstreaming in European Union (EU) development aid towards Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim is to detect how gender (in)equality in Sub-Saharan Africa is framed by the EU by critically assessing the nature and range of the differences between EU and civil society framings of gender (in)equality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using the method of Critical Frame Analysis, 28 EU programming documents have been analysed and compared to 10 civil society texts on gender equality. I conclude that the EU’s approach to gender mainstreaming in its development aid towards Sub-Saharan Africa is to a large extent integrationist and predominantly instrumentalist as it is framed as a way of more effectively achieving existing policy goals. The more transformative issues that are put forward by Sub-Saharan African civil society organisations do not t within the EU’s dominant development paradigm that is focused on achieving the Millennium Development Goals and does not signficantly challenge gender relations or power structures. The gap between the analysed civil society views and those expressed by the EU can be explained by the EU’s reluctance to include in its policy drafting the promotion of gender equality by civil society organisations. Moreover, the gap seems to have both practical and ideological grounds. Key words: gender equality, European Union, Sub-Saharan Africa, development policy, civil society, millennium development goals, critical frame analysis 

scholarly journals Prioritizing professionals? How the democratic and professionalized nature of interest groups shapes their degree of access to EU officials

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-501
Author(s):  
Adrià Albareda
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Organizational Capacity ◽  
Public Officials ◽  
Organizational Attributes ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Member Involvement ◽  
Eu Commission ◽  
The Eu

AbstractInterest groups are key intermediary actors between civil society and public officials. The EU has long emphasized the importance of interacting with representative groups that involve their members. Additionally, there is an increasing trend toward the professionalization of groups that invest in organizational capacities to efficiently provide policy expertise. Both member involvement and organizational capacity are crucial features for groups to function as transmission belts that aggregate and transfer the preferences of their members to policymakers, thus reinforcing the legitimacy and efficiency of governance systems. Yet, not all groups have these organizational attributes. This paper quantitatively examines the effects of interest groups’ investment in member involvement and organizational capacity on the level of access to EU Commission officials. The results indicate that member involvement does not pay off in terms of higher levels of access. In contrast, groups with high organizational capacities have more meetings with public officials of the Commission.

17. Organized Interests

2020 ◽  
pp. 316-332
Author(s):  
Simon Bulmer ◽  
Owen Parker ◽  
Ian Bache ◽  
Stephen George ◽  
Charlotte Burns
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
European Union ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Interest Groups ◽  
Interest Group ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Central Component ◽  
European Level ◽  
Organized Interests ◽  
The Eu

This chapter focuses on the so-called organized interests, whose interaction with the formal European Union (EU) institutions is a central component of the EU’s decision-making process. The term ‘interest group’ refers to a range of organizations outside of the formal institutions that seek to influence decision making. They provide a link between state actors and the rest of society, also known as ‘civil society’. The chapter first considers the general growth of interest group activity at the European level before discussing the types of group that try to influence EU policy making and the forms of representation open to interests. It then explores the strategies and tactics that interest groups use to try to influence the different institutions. Finally, it analyses the issue of regulating interest group access to the EU institutions.

scholarly journals Place leadership and the role of the third sector and civil society

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
Oto Potluka ◽  
Alessandro Sancino ◽  
John Diamond ◽  
James Rees
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Leadership Studies ◽  
Policy Debates ◽  
Voluntary Engagement ◽  
Third Sector Organisations

Only relatively recently, place leadership has become an important debate in the leadership studies and public administration literatures. From a place leadership perspective, there is clearly a potential role for third sector organisations and the voluntary engagement that citizens can play for places through different activities, such as for example social innovation, public services provision, volunteering, civic engagement, advocacy, enhancement of the quality of life, strengthening of social bonds and social cohesion. However, the topic of civil society and third sector organisations is still neglected in research and public policy debates on place-based leadership. Our special issue aims at filling this gap.

scholarly journals Understanding the Circulation of Songs of Resistance via Social Media in Manipur, India

2020 ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
Priti Laishram
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
State Actors

Abstract Songs of resistance have been used widely to address the plight of people. They have served as a medium through which people could talk about oppression and injustice. They depict the reality and lived experiences of people. In addition, they reflect on the socio-political situation while, at the same time, questioning the state atrocities and also addressing the conflict between state and non-state actors, namely the armed underground organisation, the civil society organisations. This paper attempts to understand the circulation of songs of resistance in Manipur, India. As the use of cassette has stopped and selling CDs became financially non-viable for independent artists, social media has become one of the major channels to reach the audience. The artists who sing songs of resistance do not perform in street protests, and their songs are even not used in street protests. Concerts, crowd-funded events, and social media, then, have become a major means through which the songs are circulated. The current study discusses the role of social media in facilitating the circulation of these songs. The paper also addresses the issue of access and the role of fan pages in this process. Keywords: resistance, songs, social media, circulation, concerts

scholarly journals The Ethics of Reciprocity in the Light of the German and the English Charitable Sector and Emerging Trends in European Philanthropic Governance

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-83
Author(s):  
Nina C. Lück
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
European Foundation ◽  
The Global Financial Crisis ◽  
The Eu

Abstract The lively debate about European cross-border donations and the European philanthropic landscape that has been started has seemingly reached a slight standstill since the global financial crisis and austerity plans are dominating the every day discussion. However, the European non-profit sector remains an area that is of crucial importance for the European labour market, the European Research Area, and most importantly, the participation of European civil society which directly influences questions of citizenship and European identity. The paper will compare the origin and legal framework of the English and the German charitable foundations and link it to the EU’s third sector where the European Foundation Centre (EFC) as a key representative for civil society actors in the non-profit area and the Commission play a pivotal role in the establishment of a European Foundation Statute (FE) that is meant to facilitate cross-border donations and non-profit activities throughout the EU. In the concluding part, the wider meaning of a strong third sector in the EU will be analysed.

The EU’s engagement with civil society on human rights

2020 ◽  
pp. 293-311
Author(s):  
Jeff Kenner ◽  
Katrina Peake ◽  
Stuart Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Democratic Legitimacy ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Civil Society Organisations ◽  
Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽  
Public Consultations ◽  
The Eu

The European Union’s (EU’s) engagement with civil society is multifaceted, involving a variety of initiatives, dialogues, and cooperation. The EU has recognised the importance of engaging with these actors as an avenue to foster the improvement and promotion of human rights globally. It seeks to undertake effective engagement through public consultations, meeting transparency requirements, ensuring policy coherence, and funding to support their activities. This is closely connected to EU treaty provisions and the EU’s democratic legitimacy. This chapter identifies ways and means for the EU to provide more effective structures for dialogue with civil society, target funding to increase the capacity of civil society organisations to promote human rights and explore more proactive methods of engagement. It makes recommendations to streamline and strengthen the EU’s engagement with civil society to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.

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