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Exploring Civil Society's Role in Promoting Citizenship for Non-EU Citizens

This study analyzes the role of civil society in fostering citizenship among non-EU citizens across Sweden, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Italy. Through interviews with 23 NGOs, it highlights key areas such as anti-discrimination and support for refugees and asylum seekers, while examining challenges like financial and organizational resources. Findings emphasize the importance of inter-organizational learning, advocacy, and facilitating citizen participation. The research calls for more inclusive policies and addresses the complexities of NGO engagement with public institutions to enhance democratic participation.

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Exploring Civil Society's Role in Promoting Citizenship for Non-EU Citizens

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  1. CIVIC CULTURES AND DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATIONErik AmnåYeS – Youth & SocietyÖrebro University, Swedenerik.amna@oru.se

  2. WORK PACKAGE # 10Civil society’s role in promoting citizenship among non EU-citizensGood practices from Sweden, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Italy

  3. THE STUDY • Inteviews with 23 NGOs • Two policy fields • Anti-discrimination • Refugees and asylum seekers • Different political contexts/welfare regimes • Sweden • Great Britain • The Netherlands • Italy • ”Good practices” – ordinary organisations´ experiences

  4. Delivered societal utilities • Services • Health care, legal aid, information, employment, networks, education, pronounced rights • Watch dog • Advocacy, representing non EU-citizens • Opinion formation • Review and critique, information, unofficial statistics, voice to marginalized groups • Mediation • Individuals – authorities • Between authorities

  5. Preconditions • Financial resources • Personell resources • Organisational resources

  6. Financial resources • Lack of funds – greatest NGO weakness • National and local public funding • Most important NGO income • Promotes cooperation with governments • Legitimizes and de-legitimizes NGOs • EU funding • Genereal weak contacts with EU institutions • Primarily an option for large NGOs

  7. Organisational resources • Inter-organisational learning • Smaller organisations, less attention • Importing strengths from each other • NGO adaptation and flexibility facilitated through network organization • Cooperation with national governments and the EU

  8. Personell resources • Target groups • Receiver of aid – experts and assistants • Volunteers • More directly crucial for smaller NGOs • Members • Ambigious role (due to selection of NGOs?) • Professionals • Important for big as well as small NGOs • External key persons • Politicians, experts

  9. Reflections on NGO policies • Diversity of civil society • Challenges and strengthens European standardization? • Financing • Ear-marked funding may jeopardize NGOs’ internal work and priorities • EU funding perceived as complicated • European funding favours strong NGOs • NGO as policy initiator & implementator • Uncritical self-understanding in GB & NL • Doubtful attitude in SE

  10. Policy implications • Create more participatory opportunities! • Be aware of diversity among NGOs – and across political contexts! • How can locked relationships where states and NGOs get stuck on each other be changed and altered? • Is the ’Active Citizen’ Policy of EU and its member states trustworthy as long as they hand over the realisation of basic citizen rights to NGO´s of various capacities? • Public institutions influence NGOs and civic culture – not only the other way around!

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