scholarly journals The importance of non-governmental organizations in public policy-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the time after the Dayton agreement

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 302-337
Author(s):  
Hazim Okanović ◽  

The main goal of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms of the influence of NGOs on public policy-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement on December 14, 1995 in Paris. The sharp increase in the number of NGOs occurs immediately after the Dayton Accords, and according to some estimates, there were more than 1,500 at the time, which cannot be considered a large number when compared to the number of NGOs in other transition countries. Data from the Collective Register of Foundations and Associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina state that their total number is 25,646, while the number of actually active is difficult to determine. The literature so far has been presented from the non-governmental sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina to a significant extent for public policy making, as well as research results and these claims primarily based on the number of qualitative impact diaries of individual NGOs (case studies). This research paper aims at systematic research of the domain of influence of the non-governmental sector, through quantitative analysis of newly collected data on the influence of non-governmental organizations. The survey was proven at the local, cantonal, authorial and state level on a representative and stratified sample (10% - according to the statistical method) and was trained by the leadership and activists of non-governmental organizations and government officials (ministries and state administrative organizations). One of the main assumptions is that by successfully networking with organizations from neighboring EU member states, NGOs become a respectable actor in public policy-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to quantitative analysis, this paper provides a detailed overview and theoretical analysis of civil society, NGO sector and public policies as well as a comparative insight into institutional and non-institutional mechanisms of NGO influence on public policy making in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their practical application in neighboring countries European Union. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the role of the non-governmental sector (association) in public advocacy and the analysis and comparison of current theories of the legal policy framework, structure, size, factors of development of the non-governmental sector. In addition, the paper contributes to the assessment of the current state of the mechanism of influence on the creation of public policy agendas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the formulation of measures for internal structures and networking of NGOs and the definition of their number, structure and types. The problem of the research is reflected in the fact that the started processes of transformation and the unfinished process of transition of the Bosnian society and civil sector are, due to the war destructions, significantly slowed down. Changes in society in the pre-war phase created realistic preconditions for the development of the non-governmental sector and civil society in general, and provided a realistic basis for influencing the advocacy and creation of various public policies. In the post-war period, international donors invested heavily in the NGO sector. The subject of this research is the influence of the non-governmental sector on policy-making processes, through knowledge of institutional mechanisms, as well as the correlation of the non-governmental sector and public policies from the aspect of democracy development as an integral process in all its aspects. Given that this topic has previously been partially addressed in this context, through a systematic review of the problem and offering an adequate solution to the problem, it is necessary to re-examine the key issues. The key issues explored within this paper are how networking with neighboring EU Member States has a positive impact (has a positive association) on the importance of NGOs in advocating for public policies. In addition, the extent to which financial support from EU institutions has a positive impact on the importance of NGOs in advocating for public policies has been explored.

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
PAN Lin

The participation of social organizations in the process of public policy can make up for the limitations of the existing system, effectively safeguard the social interests at the core of the public interests and promote the sustainable development of the diversified society. However, in the process of participating in public policy, the social organizations of our country still face some factors such as unclear legal status of participation, insufficient operating funds, lack of professional talents and imperfect supervision system. We should take strategies and measures from the aspects of law, system and the self construction of non-governmental organizations, expand the scope and level of social organizations to participate in public policies, and promote the democratization and scientization of public administration in China.


Author(s):  
Andy Al Fatih

Public policies are purposed, basically, to solve public problems and for the sake of public welfare. They should, therefore, be made thoughtfully, implemented successfully, and give pleasant impacts to the target groups. This article is related to the dynamics transformation of public policy making in indonesian democracy. In centralistic political system, national government (executive body) controlled more essential public affairs. As the result, most public policies were much engineered and directed, mostly, to the needs of the in power. The tendentious public policies were abused for personal, group, and cronies’ interests of the in authority officials. The people were left behind, served as object of development, and stayed poor. It happened for decades. The people could not stand it any longer and struggled for a reformed government resulting in regional autonomy.   Regional autonomy seems promising for the people’s prosperity. In this era, legislative body tends to control power. The people set hopes and wait for happiness. In fact, some members of parliament only show power. They control many walks of lives. They represent themselves rather than the people. They somewhat abuse power and make public policies for their own gains. The people are left behind again and still get disappointed. Here, a paradox occurs. The paradox must be sorted out well. The hot discussion begins. The actors blame to one another.


Building on the argument that local knowledge is political, this chapter investigates how knowledge plays a key role not just in policy formulation but also in implementation. Local knowledge is generated by citizens in everyday conversations and forums, often articulated in civil society and popular participation, including religious knowledge. We argue for local knowledge as a prerequisite for the democratisation of policy making and the improvement of public policies. To improve the use of local knowledge in public policy making, communities and partners need to work with local knowledge through its political dimensions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocío B. Hubert ◽  
Elsa Estevez ◽  
Ana Maguitman ◽  
Tomasz Janowski

1980 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 336-339
Author(s):  
B. C. Smith

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