ArchiveDomestic and International Factors in the Process of Civil Society Development: The Case of Ukraine
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Irina Khmelko
Abstract
This article focuses on factors that contribute to civil society development in the former Soviet countries. We analyze a set of challenges faced by civil societies in these countries and the tools available to these societies to overcome these challenges. We argue that these societies face a double challenge from past legacies and new imperatives of liberalization. Therefore, a combined and coordinated effort between domestic and international institutions is necessary to ensure success in the processes of civil society formation and consolidation. The international involvement becomes necessary in the period between the fall of the old Communist institutions and the fully-functional operation of the new democratic institutions. The article points to the two kinds of international influences which are frequently discussed independently, namely the process of European integration and that of international aid. The article offers to consider the joint effect of both. The Ukrainian government has already taken steps toward developing legislation in line with EU standards. However, it lacks expertise in these matters. Therefore, providing international aid and targeting areas that have already been identified by the Ukrainian government as priorities may be the first step in offering effective international aid. Finally, broadening the focus of aid and working with national level organizations in addition to the local ones can provide another improvement to the system of aid.
Introduction
This paper contributes to the discussion concerning the role of a civil society in a democracy. Following Robert Putnam’s1 and Alex De Tocqueville’s2 historic works, one of the well-articulated arguments in this field is that the civil society is an essential part of any democratic society, and participation in civic groups fosters norms of reciprocity and trust, all of which contribute to democratization. Critics of Putnam’s work point out that Northern Italy, Putnam’s prototype of a thriving civic community, gave birth to a fascist, corporatist state in 1930. Further, the Weimar Republic’s civil society paved the way for the rise to power of the Nazis. This debate has a special importance in light of third wave of democratic transition. Many of the Former Soviet Countries (FSC hereafter) have begun down the path of democratization. The question then is: what factors influence the roles of civil society in the process of democratic transition and consolidation?
This paper adds to the discussion by arguing that the civil society itself is not democratic or authoritarian, and its role depends on a combination of factors that influence its development. This paper analyzes the interactive effect of domestic and international factors in the development of a civil society in one of the FSCs, Ukraine. Domestic factors include the structure of civil society organizations, the historic legacies, and new imperatives of liberalization. International factors include two main groups: the process of European integration and international aid. We argue that a combination of past legacies and new imperatives of liberalization presents a double challenge for the development of civil society. In the period between the collapse of old institutions and the development of new ones, a coordinated effort by domestic and international institutions is necessary to ensure the formation and consolidation of civil society in a developing democracy.
The paper is divided into six sections. In the first part, we define civil society and its roles in a developing democracy. In the second section, we discuss factors associated with the formation and consolidation of a civil society in a developing democracy, namely past legacies and the imperatives of liberalization. In the third and fourth sections, we analyze the case of Ukraine. In these sections, we identify some of the incentives that have been important to domestic policy actors, such as the role of European integration. We further discuss international aid to the Ukrainian civil society and identify possible ways of improving its efficiency, such as considering the interactive effect of different international factors. In the fifth section, we discuss factors in the development of a civil society and offer approaches to finding an effective way of assisting this development in post-authoritarian countries. The conclusion outlines the main findings of this article.
This paper adds to the discussion by arguing that the civil society itself is not democratic or authoritarian, and its role depends on a combination of factors that influence its development. This paper analyzes the interactive effect of domestic and international factors in the development of a civil society in one of the FSCs, Ukraine. Domestic factors include the structure of civil society organizations, the historic legacies, and new imperatives of liberalization. International factors include two main groups: the process of European integration and international aid. We argue that a combination of past legacies and new imperatives of liberalization presents a double challenge for the development of civil society. In the period between the collapse of old institutions and the development of new ones, a coordinated effort by domestic and international institutions is necessary to ensure the formation and consolidation of civil society in a developing democracy.
The paper is divided into six sections. In the first part, we define civil society and its roles in a developing democracy. In the second section, we discuss factors associated with the formation and consolidation of a civil society in a developing democracy, namely past legacies and the imperatives of liberalization. In the third and fourth sections, we analyze the case of Ukraine. In these sections, we identify some of the incentives that have been important to domestic policy actors, such as the role of European integration. We further discuss international aid to the Ukrainian civil society and identify possible ways of improving its efficiency, such as considering the interactive effect of different international factors. In the fifth section, we discuss factors in the development of a civil society and offer approaches to finding an effective way of assisting this development in post-authoritarian countries. The conclusion outlines the main findings of this article.
