The main aim of the course is to give students a critical understanding of the role of civil society and civil sector in the process of transformation and modernization in Central Europe during the Last 22 years. Following the fall of Communism in 1989 the civil sectors in CEE countries were re-established after the several decades of communist totality. The most obvious evidence of that is the rapid growth in the number of civil society organizations (CSOs) during the last decade of 20 century. In spite of this impressive growth, the size and society position of civil sectors in CE countries remains relatively limited. The lecture gives answers on the questions what are the origins of CSOs proliferation and why is the process of civil sector consolidation so difficult? What was the role of outside (western) assistance in the sector consolidation? What effects of Path Dependence have decisive impact on the shape of the sector internal structure and on the consolidation processes as such? What are the anomalies in civil sectors development in CEE countries in comparison with their western counterparts? What are the main achievements of the civil sector consolidation and what are the main failures? What are the crucial problems of the forming the civil sectors as a real societal actors? As theoretical background for identification and explanation of the mentioned factors, effects and problems will be used set of economic, sociological and politological theories (Theory of the (Market / State) Failure, Theory of Confidence, Welfare State Theory, The Resource Mobilization Theory, The Theory of Political Opportunity Structure, The Collective Identity Theory…)
Objectives: By the end of the course, students will have acquired:
1. Understanding of the theoretical background of the organized civil society development.
2. An awareness of the key issues of the political developments in particular CEE countries and its influence on civil society consolidation.
3. Understanding of the Path Dependence Effects on Civil Society internal structure and consolidation process
4. Knowledge of how to analyze and compare the basic parameters of Civil Society development.
Poslední úprava: Jusić Mirna, M.A. et M.A., Ph.D. (26.02.2024)
The main aim of the course is to give students a critical understanding of the role of civil society and civil sector in the process of transformation and modernization in Central Europe during the Last 22 years. Following the fall of Communism in 1989 the civil sectors in CEE countries were re-established after the several decades of communist totality. The most obvious evidence of that is the rapid growth in the number of civil society organizations (CSOs) during the last decade of 20 century. In spite of this impressive growth, the size and society position of civil sectors in CE countries remains relatively limited. The lecture gives answers on the questions what are the origins of CSOs proliferation and why is the process of civil sector consolidation so difficult? What was the role of outside (western) assistance in the sector consolidation? What effects of Path Dependence have decisive impact on the shape of the sector internal structure and on the consolidation processes as such? What are the anomalies in civil sectors development in CEE countries in comparison with their western counterparts? What are the main achievements of the civil sector consolidation and what are the main failures? What are the crucial problems of the forming the civil sectors as a real societal actors? As theoretical background for identification and explanation of the mentioned factors, effects and problems will be used set of economic, sociological and politological theories (Theory of the (Market / State) Failure, Theory of Confidence, Welfare State Theory, The Resource Mobilization Theory, The Theory of Political Opportunity Structure, The Collective Identity Theory…)
Objectives: By the end of the course, students will have acquired:
1. Understanding of the theoretical background of the organized civil society development.
2. An awareness of the key issues of the political developments in particular CEE countries and its influence on civil society consolidation.
3. Understanding of the Path Dependence Effects on Civil Society internal structure and consolidation process
4. Knowledge of how to analyze and compare the basic parameters of Civil Society development.
Poslední úprava: Hájek Martin, doc. Mgr., Ph.D. (03.02.2020)
Cíl předmětu -
AIMS:
The main aim of the course is to give students a critical understanding of the role of civil society and civil sector in the process of transformation and modernization in Central Europe after Velvet Revolutions. Following the fall of Communism in 1989 the civil sectors in CEE countries were re-established after the several decades of communist totality. The most obvious evidence of that is the rapid growth in the number of civil society organizations (CSOs) during the last decade of 20 century. In spite of this impressive growth, the size and position of civil sectors in CE countries remains relatively limited. The lecture gives answers on the questions what are the origins of CSOs proliferation and why is the process of civil sector consolidation so difficult? What was the role of outside (western) assistance in the sector consolidation? What effects of Path Dependence have decisive impact on the shape of the sector internal structure and on the consolidation processes as such? What are the anomalies in civil sectors development in CEE countries in comparison with their western counterparts? What are the main achievements of the civil sector consolidation and what are the main failures? What are the crucial problems of the forming the civil sectors as a real societal actors? As theoretical background for identification and explanation of the mentioned factors, effects and problems will be used set of economic, sociological and politological theories (Theory of the (Market / State) Failure, Theory of Confidence, Welfare State Theory, The Resource Mobilization Theory, The Theory of Political Opportunity Structure, The Collective Identity Theory…)
Poslední úprava: Frič Pavol, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (02.02.2021)
AIMS:
The main aim of the course is to give students a critical understanding of the role of civil society and civil sector in the process of transformation and modernization in Central Europe after Velvet Revolutions. Following the fall of Communism in 1989 the civil sectors in CEE countries were re-established after the several decades of communist totality. The most obvious evidence of that is the rapid growth in the number of civil society organizations (CSOs) during the last decade of 20 century. In spite of this impressive growth, the size and position of civil sectors in CE countries remains relatively limited. The lecture gives answers on the questions what are the origins of CSOs proliferation and why is the process of civil sector consolidation so difficult? What was the role of outside (western) assistance in the sector consolidation? What effects of Path Dependence have decisive impact on the shape of the sector internal structure and on the consolidation processes as such? What are the anomalies in civil sectors development in CEE countries in comparison with their western counterparts? What are the main achievements of the civil sector consolidation and what are the main failures? What are the crucial problems of the forming the civil sectors as a real societal actors? As theoretical background for identification and explanation of the mentioned factors, effects and problems will be used set of economic, sociological and politological theories (Theory of the (Market / State) Failure, Theory of Confidence, Welfare State Theory, The Resource Mobilization Theory, The Theory of Political Opportunity Structure, The Collective Identity Theory…)
Poslední úprava: Frič Pavol, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (02.02.2021)
Literatura -
Core Mandatory Texts:
Anheier, H. - Seibel, W. (Eds.) (1990) The Third Sector: Comparative Studies of Nonprofit Organizations. Berlin New York: De Gruyter.
Salamon L. M., Anheier H.K. and Associates, (1998) Future of Civil Society. Making Central European Nonprofit-Organizations Work. Wiesbaden: VS VERLAG Für Sozialwissenschaften, pp. 601-633.
Zimmer A., Priler E. (Eds.) (2004) The Emerging Sector Revisited: A Summary. The Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project, Phase II., Institute for Policy Studies, JHU, Baltimore.
Recomended Texts:
Celichowski J. (2004) Civil Society in Eastern Europe: growth without engagement. In: Glasius M., Lewis D. And Seckinelgin H. Exploring Civil Society: Political and Cultural Contexts. Oxon: Routledge.
Cox T. and Vass L. (1995) Civil Society and Interest representation in Hungarian Political Development. In: Hungary: the Politics of Transition. Budapest.
Demeš P. (2001) The Third Sector and Volunteerism. In: Slovakia 2001: Mesežnikov G., Kollár M. Nicholson T.: A Global Report on the State of Society. Institute for Public Affairs, Bratislava.
Fagin, A. (1997) "Transition to Democracy in the Czech Republic: The Concept of Civil Society." The Practice of Civil Society. pp 573-580. Middlesex University.
Frič P. (2005) The third sector and the policy process in the Czech Republic. LSE, Centre for Civil Society: Third Sector European Policy Working Papers, No. 6, June 2005.
Frič, P. 2011. Czech Elites and Citizens as Part of a Public Accountability System. In: Osborne S. New York: Routledge, pp. 79-89.
Frič, Pavol. 2008. The Uneasy Partnership of the State and the Third Sector in Czech Republic. In: The Third Sector in Europe: Trends and Challenges. Edited by Stephen P. Osborne, Oxon: Routledge, s. 230-255. ISBN 0-415-42339-2 (hbk)
Harvey B. (2004) The illusion of inclusion: Access by NGOs to the structural funds in the new mwmber states of eastern and central Europe. Report for the European Citizens Action Service. Brussels: ECAS.
Howard M.M. 2003. The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe
Hustinx, L., Cnaan, R.A., Handy, F. 2010. The Navigating Theories of Volunteering: The hybrid map for a komplex phenomenon. Journal of the Theory of Social Behaviour, 40 (4), 410-434.
Jenkins R.M. (1995) Politics and the Development of the Hungarian Non-profit Sector. Voluntas 6, 2: 183-201.
Jordan P. (1997) Non-governmental organizations and the Public Administration: Cooperation or Separation? KnownUnknown Sector Roczniak, 1: 79-84. Warsaw.
Kuti E. (1999) Different Eastern European countries at different crossroads. In: VOLUNTAS, Vol. 10, No. 1.
Potůček M. (2000) The Uneasy Birth of Czech Civil Society. Voluntas, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 107-121.
Skovajsa Marek (2008) Independent and Broader Civil Society in East- Central European Democratizations. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, Volume 4, No.2: 47-73
Tarrow, Tsveta Petrova. Transactional and Participatory Activism in the Emerging European Polity: The Puzzle of East-Central Europe. Comparative Political Studies, Volume XX Number X, Month 2006 1- 21
Siegel D. and Yancey J. (1992) The Rebuirth of Civil Society: The Development of Nonprofit Sector in East Central Europe and the role of Western Assistance. New York: The Rockefellr Brothers Fund.
Poslední úprava: Bednařík Petr, PhDr., Ph.D. (16.02.2020)
Core Mandatory Texts:
Anheier, H. - Seibel, W. (Eds.) (1990) The Third Sector: Comparative Studies of Nonprofit Organizations. Berlin New York: De Gruyter.
Salamon L. M., Anheier H.K. and Associates, (1998) Future of Civil Society. Making Central European Nonprofit-Organizations Work. Wiesbaden: VS VERLAG Für Sozialwissenschaften, pp. 601-633.
Zimmer A., Priler E. (Eds.) (2004) The Emerging Sector Revisited: A Summary. The Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project, Phase II., Institute for Policy Studies, JHU, Baltimore.
Recomended Texts:
Celichowski J. (2004) Civil Society in Eastern Europe: growth without engagement. In: Glasius M., Lewis D. And Seckinelgin H. Exploring Civil Society: Political and Cultural Contexts. Oxon: Routledge.
Cox T. and Vass L. (1995) Civil Society and Interest representation in Hungarian Political Development. In: Hungary: the Politics of Transition. Budapest.
Demeš P. (2001) The Third Sector and Volunteerism. In: Slovakia 2001: Mesežnikov G., Kollár M. Nicholson T.: A Global Report on the State of Society. Institute for Public Affairs, Bratislava.
Fagin, A. (1997) "Transition to Democracy in the Czech Republic: The Concept of Civil Society." The Practice of Civil Society. pp 573-580. Middlesex University.
Frič P. (2005) The third sector and the policy process in the Czech Republic. LSE, Centre for Civil Society: Third Sector European Policy Working Papers, No. 6, June 2005.
Frič, P. (2011). Czech Elites and Citizens as Part of a Public Accountability System. In: Osborne S. New York: Routledge, pp. 79-89.
Frič, Pavol. (2008). The Uneasy Partnership of the State and the Third Sector in Czech Republic. In: The Third Sector in Europe: Trends and Challenges. Edited by Stephen P. Osborne, Oxon: Routledge, s. 230-255. ISBN 0-415-42339-2 (hbk)
Harvey B. (2004) The illusion of inclusion: Access by NGOs to the structural funds in the new mwmber states of eastern and central Europe. Report for the European Citizens Action Service. Brussels: ECAS.
Howard M. M. (2003). The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe. London: Cambridge University Press.
Hustinx, L., Cnaan, R. A., Handy, F. 2010. The Navigating Theories of Volunteering: The hybrid map for a komplex phenomenon. Journal of the Theory of Social Behaviour, 40 (4), 410-434.
Jenkins R. M. (1995) Politics and the Development of the Hungarian Non-profit Sector. Voluntas 6, 2: 183-201.
Jordan P. (1997) Non-governmental organizations and the Public Administration: Cooperation or Separation? KnownUnknown Sector Roczniak, 1: 79-84. Warsaw.
Kuti E. (1999) Different Eastern European countries at different crossroads. In: Voluntas, Vol. 10, No. 1.
Potůček M. (2000) The Uneasy Birth of Czech Civil Society. Voluntas, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 107-121.
Siegel D. and Yancey J. (1992) The Rebuirth of Civil Society: The Development of Nonprofit Sector in East Central Europe and the role of Western Assistance. New York: The Rockefellr Brothers Fund.
Skovajsa Marek (2008) Independent and Broader Civil Society in East- Central European Democratizations. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, Volume 4, No.2: 47-73
Tarrow, Tsveta Petrova. (2006) Transactional and Participatory Activism in the Emerging European Polity: The Puzzle of East-Central Europe. Comparative Political Studies, Volume XX Number X, Month 2006 1- 21
Poslední úprava: Jusić Mirna, M.A. et M.A., Ph.D. (26.02.2024)
Sylabus -
SYLLABUS
JSM437, JSM044, JSB741, Civil Society in Central Europe
AIMS:
The main aim of the course is to give students a critical understanding of the role of civil society and civil sector in the process of transformation and modernization in Central Europe after Velvet Revolutions. Following the fall of Communism in 1989 the civil sectors in CEE countries were re-established after the several decades of communist totality. The most obvious evidence of that is the rapid growth in the number of civil society organizations (CSOs) during the last decade of 20 century. In spite of this impressive growth, the size and position of civil sectors in CE countries remains relatively limited. The lecture gives answers on the questions what are the origins of CSOs proliferation and why is the process of civil sector consolidation so difficult? What was the role of outside (western) assistance in the sector consolidation? What effects of Path Dependence have decisive impact on the shape of the sector internal structure and on the consolidation processes as such? What are the anomalies in civil sectors development in CEE countries in comparison with their western counterparts? What are the main achievements of the civil sector consolidation and what are the main failures? What are the crucial problems of the forming the civil sectors as a real societal actors? As theoretical background for identification and explanation of the mentioned factors, effects and problems will be used set of economic, sociological and politological theories (Theory of the (Market / State) Failure, Theory of Confidence, Welfare State Theory, The Resource Mobilization Theory, The Theory of Political Opportunity Structure, The Collective Identity Theory…)
COURSE STRUCTURE
1. Introduction
CS definition, theoretical approaches, organized CS – CS civil sector, three society life sectors, terminology, legal CSOs forms, CSOs functions in society, CS structure and segmentation.
2. Civil Society and CSOs as Schools of Democracy
Political role of CSOs in society, Theory of interest groups, Theory of democratic culture, power sandwich - demoelitism, CSOs as a space for socialization of citizens for political participation, the EU and the role of civic organizations in filling the democratic deficit, participatory engineering.
3. Consolidation of Civil Sector in CE Countries after 1989
Increase in the number of civic organizations, formation of the civil sector community, professionalization as a source of successes and problems of civil organizations, projectification.
4. Political Developments and Civil Society
Changing attitudes of political elites towards civil society organizations after Velvet Revolution, process of democracy consolidation, Civil society ideology, building the system of political parties, forming style of governing, contradictory visions of CS development - Václav Havel vs. Václav Klaus
5. Public Policy and Civil Sectorafter 1989
Impact of public policy on the organized civil society, dilemmas of decision-making agenda, inconsistence of Public Policy, lack of political will to solve problems of CSOs, intersectoral partnership models, consequences of CSOs policy involvement – institutional embeddedness, domestication, depolitization.
6. Professionalization and Marketization of CSOs
Modernization, individualization, CSOs´ failure as schools of democracy, transactional activism, ideology of professionalism = threat of loss of CSOs´sectoral identity, decrease in the attractiveness of civic organizations in Czech society (membership, public trust …), civic or democratic professionalism.
7. Civil Engagement in the CE Countries after 1989
Types of citizens´ participation, collective and individualized activism, economic (financial) civic participation, weak civil engagement in CE countries and its causes, declining membership in CSOs.
8. Exit rebellion: Participatory Effectiveness
Participatory inequality, participatory competition, institutional settings of participation, Empowering participation, voice and exit participation, Secessio Plebis, successful exit rebellions in Central Europe,
9. Philanthropy in CE Countries
Philanthropy and proletarian altruism during communist era, communism as pure altruistic society, philanthropy consolidation after 1989, managerial and mission perspective on giving, CSOs and individual giving.
10. Volunteering in CE Countries
Three paradigms of volunteering, attitudes to volunteering under communism, residual and emancipatory value of volunteering, CSOs and institutionalization of volunteering, structure of volunteering, patterns of volunteering.
11. Anti-Civil Society and CSOs
Culture of informality, clientelistic networks, systemic corruption, institutional trap, simulated democracy, defective democracy, state party financing+political marketing=stateting democracy, CSOs and anti-corruption strategies, society disorganization
12. Un-civil society, populism and CSOs
The rise of populism and civic participation, autocratic populist leaders and CSOs, the struggle for the image of CSOs in society, society polarization, anti-populism, failure of CSOs as a brake on the erosion of democracy, economic participation of citizens in the maintenance of democracy.
13. Future of CS in the perspective of democratization/de-democratization
Current challenges of CS development, the role of CSOs in autocratic (illiberal) democracy, advent of political extremism, vision of civic sector development.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you will have acquired:
1.understanding of the theoretical background of the organized civil society development.
2.an awareness of the key issues of the political developments in Czech Republic and others Central European countries and its influence on civil society consolidation.
3.understanding of the Path Dependence Effects on Civil Society internal structure and consolidation process
4.knowledge of how to analyze and compare the basic parameters of Civil Society development.
5.understanding how the development of civil society has affected the quality of democracy in the Central European region
6.knowledge about the prospects for the development of civil society in Central Europe.
TEACHING METHOD
The lectures will be held in person.
COMPULSORY READING: For each lecture, one text (article or chapter in a book) will be assigned as compulsory reading, which will be available to students on Moodle. In some cases, students may be asked to study the assigned topic from open sources.
HOMEWORK TEST: At the beginning of each lecture, 2-3 test questions will be assigned for each compulsory text or assigned topic. Students will answer them in writing within ten minutes, with a maximum total length of 15 lines. They will submit their answers electronically to the Moodle submission system.
By the beginning of the exam period, each student will have produced approximately 6 pages of text, which will be subject to evaluation.
Written answers to homework tests cannot be corrected later.
RULES FOR SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS TO MOODLE
1. The total length of all answers to all questions is set at 15 lines written in 12-point font (230 words). The scope of the assignment may be exceeded by a maximum of 3 lines of text without penalty. For each additional line, 1 point will be deducted from the evaluation. If the scope of the answers exceeds the limit of 20 lines (310 words), the assignment will not meet the requirements, will not be evaluated, and the student will not receive any points for it.
2. The deadline for submitting the assignment after writing it may be exceeded by a maximum of 5 minutes without penalty. If the assignment is submitted later, it will not be graded and the student will not receive any points for it.
3. Form - the assignment is normally submitted electronically, but in exceptional cases it may also be delivered on paper directly in class, written in block letters.
ACTIVITY: Students are required to participate in discussions during lectures. After the homework test, there will always be a discussion on the assigned questions. After the presentation, students will also be invited to discuss the topic of the presentation, for which they will also be offered a set of questions.
ESSAY: The final exam will take place in the form of final text (essay) of a minimum 2.000 and a maximum of 2.500 words
Each student can determine the topic of his/her text within the thematic boundaries of the course lectures.
The genre of the work is an essay. It will be an analysis of a particular aspect or problem of civil societies in Central European countries.
Students will ask themselves questions about the origin and persistence of the selected problem or phenomenon and will look for answers.
The Essay can compare data for CE country(ies) with other country(ies). Can focus on different levels (international, national, regional, local) and on the different segments of CSOs.
EVALUATION
- activity on lectures = max. 15 points
- written answers to homework questions = max. 36 points
- final essay = max. 49 points
Total= max. 100 points
The subject of the evaluation of the essay will be:
The evaluation of the essay will follow the following criteria:
-Formal aspects = 2 points
-Choice of problem = 3 points
-Analysis = 15 points
-Logic of argumentation = 20 points
-Message = 19points
To complete the course, the student must achieve at least 51 points!
·91 %and more => A
·81-90 % => B
·71-80 % => C
·61-70 % => D
·51-60 % => E
·0-50 % => F
If the student does not get the required number of points on the first attempt (given by the sum of points for answers and for written work), then s/he has two more options to correct the essay according to the teacher's recommendations.
ELECTRONIC SUPPORT
At Moodles, students will also find presentations for particular lectures, including questions to answer, as well as all study texts for compulsory reading.
COMPULSORY TEXTS:
Introduction
Salamon, Lester M. and Helmut K. Anheier 1992. In search of the non-profit sector. I: The question of definitions. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 125-151.
Civil Society and CSOs as Schools of Democracy
Dodge, Jennifer and Sonia, M. Ospina. 2015. Nonprofits as “Schools of Democracy”: A Comparative Case Study of Two Environmental Organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 1–22
Consolidation of Civil Sector in CE Countries after 1989
Kuti, Eva. 1999. Different Eastern European countries at different crossroads. In: VOLUNTAS, Vol. 10, No. 1.
Political Developments and Civil Society
Dvořáková, Vladislava. 2003. Civil Society in the Czech Republic: “Impulse 99” and “Thank You, Time To Go”. In: Kopecký P. and Mudde C. eds. Uncivil Society?: ontentious Politics in Post-Communist Europe. London: Routledge.
Public Policy and Civil Sector in the CE Countries
Piotrowski, Grzegorz. 2020. Civil Society in Illiberal Democracy: The Case of Poland. Czech journal of political science / politologický časopis. Vol. 2, pp. 196-214.
CSOs´ Professionalization and Marketization
Fagan, Adam. 2005. Taking Stock of Civil-Society Development in Post-communist Europe: Evidence from the Czech Republic. Democratization, Vol.12, No.4, pp.528–547. DOI: 10.1080=13510340500226077
Civil Engagement in the CE Countries after 1989
Tarrow, Sidney-Tsveta Petrova. 2006. Transactional and Participatory Activism in the Emerging European Polity: The Puzzle of East-Central Europe. Comparative Political Studies, Volume 20, Number 10, pp. 1-21.
Exit Rebellion: Participatory Effectiveness
open sources
Philanthropy in CE Countries
Schuyt, Theo, Jan Smit, Rene Bekkers. 2010. Constructing a Philanthropy-scale: Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. Social Work & Society, Volume 8, Issue 1.
Volunteering in CE Countries
Hustinx, L., Cnaan, R.A., Handy, F. 2010. The Navigating Theories of Volunteering: The hybrid map for a komplex phenomenon. Journal of the Theory of Social Behaviour, 40 (4), 410-434.
Dark (Anti-)Civil Society and CSOs
Zakaria Patty. 2012. Is Corruption an Enemy of Civil Society? The case of Central and Eastern Europe. International Political Science Review 0(0) 1–21. DOI: 10.1177/0192512112466880
12. Un-civil society, populism and CSOs
Slačálek, Ondřej – Eva Svobodová. 2017. Professionalised “civil society” vs. grassroots “uncivil society”? The “Little Czech” 20 years later. Socio.hu, Special issue, pp. 23-52. DOI: 10.18030/socio.hu.2017en.23
13. Future of CS in the perspective of demokratization/de-democratization
Salamon, Lester M. The Resilient Sector: The Future of Nonprofit America.
Poslední úprava: Frič Pavol, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (02.02.2026)
SYLLABUS
JSM437, JSM044, JSB741, Civil Society in Central Europe
AIMS:
The main aim of the course is to give students a critical understanding of the role of civil society and civil sector in the process of transformation and modernization in Central Europe after Velvet Revolutions. Following the fall of Communism in 1989 the civil sectors in CEE countries were re-established after the several decades of communist totality. The most obvious evidence of that is the rapid growth in the number of civil society organizations (CSOs) during the last decade of 20 century. In spite of this impressive growth, the size and position of civil sectors in CE countries remains relatively limited. The lecture gives answers on the questions what are the origins of CSOs proliferation and why is the process of civil sector consolidation so difficult? What was the role of outside (western) assistance in the sector consolidation? What effects of Path Dependence have decisive impact on the shape of the sector internal structure and on the consolidation processes as such? What are the anomalies in civil sectors development in CEE countries in comparison with their western counterparts? What are the main achievements of the civil sector consolidation and what are the main failures? What are the crucial problems of the forming the civil sectors as a real societal actors? As theoretical background for identification and explanation of the mentioned factors, effects and problems will be used set of economic, sociological and politological theories (Theory of the (Market / State) Failure, Theory of Confidence, Welfare State Theory, The Resource Mobilization Theory, The Theory of Political Opportunity Structure, The Collective Identity Theory…)
COURSE STRUCTURE
1. Introduction
CS definition, theoretical approaches, organized CS – CS civil sector, three society life sectors, terminology, legal CSOs forms, CSOs functions in society, CS structure and segmentation.
2. Civil Society and CSOs as Schools of Democracy
Political role of CSOs in society, Theory of interest groups, Theory of democratic culture, power sandwich - demoelitism, CSOs as a space for socialization of citizens for political participation, the EU and the role of civic organizations in filling the democratic deficit, participatory engineering.
3. Consolidation of Civil Sector in CE Countries after 1989
Increase in the number of civic organizations, formation of the civil sector community, professionalization as a source of successes and problems of civil organizations, projectification.
4. Political Developments and Civil Society
Changing attitudes of political elites towards civil society organizations after Velvet Revolution, process of democracy consolidation, Civil society ideology, building the system of political parties, forming style of governing, contradictory visions of CS development - Václav Havel vs. Václav Klaus
5. Public Policy and Civil Sectorafter 1989
Impact of public policy on the organized civil society, dilemmas of decision-making agenda, inconsistence of Public Policy, lack of political will to solve problems of CSOs, intersectoral partnership models, consequences of CSOs policy involvement – institutional embeddedness, domestication, depolitization.6. Professionalization and Marketization of CSOs
6. Professionalization and Marketization of CSOs
Modernization, individualization, CSOs´ failure as schools of democracy, transactional activism, ideology of professionalism = threat of loss of CSOs´sectoral identity, decrease in the attractiveness of civic organizations in Czech society (membership, public trust …), civic or democratic professionalism.
7. Civil Engagement in the CE Countries after 1989
Types of citizens´ participation, collective and individualized activism, economic (financial) civic participation, weak civil engagement in CE countries and its causes, declining membership in CSOs.
8. Exit rebellion: Participatory Effectiveness
Participatory inequality, participatory competition, institutional settings of participation, Empowering participation, voice and exit participation, Secessio Plebis, successful exit rebellions in Central Europe,
9. Philanthropy in CE Countries
Philanthropy and proletarian altruism during communist era, communism as pure altruistic society, philanthropy consolidation after 1989, managerial and mission perspective on giving, CSOs and individual giving.
10. Volunteering in CE Countries
Three paradigms of volunteering, attitudes to volunteering under communism, residual and emancipatory value of volunteering, CSOs and institutionalization of volunteering, structure of volunteering, patterns of volunteering.
11. Anti-Civil Society and CSOs
Culture of informality, clientelistic networks, systemic corruption, institutional trap, simulated democracy, defective democracy, state party financing+political marketing=stateting democracy, CSOs and anti-corruption strategies, society disorganization
12. Un-civil society, populism and CSOs
The rise of populism and civic participation, autocratic populist leaders and CSOs, the struggle for the image of CSOs in society, society polarization, anti-populism, failure of CSOs as a brake on the erosion of democracy, economic participation of citizens in the maintenance of democracy.
13. Future of CS in the perspective of democratization/de-democratization
Current challenges of CS development, the role of CSOs in autocratic (illiberal) democracy, advent of political extremism, vision of civic sector development.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, you will have acquired:
1.understanding of the theoretical background of the organized civil society development.
2.an awareness of the key issues of the political developments in Czech Republic and others Central European countries and its influence on civil society consolidation.
3.understanding of the Path Dependence Effects on Civil Society internal structure and consolidation process
4.knowledge of how to analyze and compare the basic parameters of Civil Society development.
5.understanding how the development of civil society has affected the quality of democracy in the Central European region
6.knowledge about the prospects for the development of civil society in Central Europe.
TEACHING METHOD
The lectures will be held in person.
COMPULSORY READING: For each lecture, one text (article or chapter in a book) will be assigned as compulsory reading, which will be available to students on Moodle. In some cases, students may be asked to study the assigned topic from open sources.
HOMEWORK TEST: At the beginning of each lecture, 2-3 test questions will be assigned for each compulsory text or assigned topic. Students will answer them in writing within ten minutes, with a maximum total length of 15 lines. They will submit their answers electronically to the Moodle submission system.
By the beginning of the exam period, each student will have produced approximately 6 pages of text, which will be subject to evaluation.
Written answers to homework tests cannot be corrected later.
RULES FOR SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS TO MOODLE
1. The total length of all answers to all questions is set at 15 lines written in 12-point font (230 words). The scope of the assignment may be exceeded by a maximum of 3 lines of text without penalty. For each additional line, 1 point will be deducted from the evaluation. If the scope of the answers exceeds the limit of 20 lines (310 words), the assignment will not meet the requirements, will not be evaluated, and the student will not receive any points for it.
2. The deadline for submitting the assignment after writing it may be exceeded by a maximum of 5 minutes without penalty. If the assignment is submitted later, it will not be graded and the student will not receive any points for it.
3. Form - the assignment is normally submitted electronically, but in exceptional cases it may also be delivered on paper directly in class, written in block letters.
ACTIVITY: Students are required to participate in discussions during lectures. After the homework test, there will always be a discussion on the assigned questions. After the presentation, students will also be invited to discuss the topic of the presentation, for which they will also be offered a set of questions.
ESSAY: The final exam will take place in the form of final text (essay) of a minimum 2.000 and a maximum of 2.500 words
Each student can determine the topic of his/her text within the thematic boundaries of the course lectures.
The genre of the work is an essay. It will be an analysis of a particular aspect or problem of civil societies in Central European countries.
Students will ask themselves questions about the origin and persistence of the selected problem or phenomenon and will look for answers.
The Essay can compare data for CE country(ies) with other country(ies). Can focus on different levels (international, national, regional, local) and on the different segments of CSOs.
EVALUATION
- activity on lectures = max. 15 points
- written answers to homework questions = max. 36 points
- final essay = max. 49 points
Total= max. 100 points
The subject of the evaluation of the essay will be:
The evaluation of the essay will follow the following criteria:
-Formal aspects = 2 points
-Choice of problem = 3 points
-Analysis = 15 points
-Logic of argumentation = 20 points
-Message = 19points
To complete the course, the student must achieve at least 51 points!
·91 %and more => A
·81-90 % => B
·71-80 % => C
·61-70 % => D
·51-60 % => E
·0-50 % => F
If the student does not get the required number of points on the first attempt (given by the sum of points for answers and for written work), then s/he has two more options to correct the essay according to the teacher's recommendations.
ELECTRONIC SUPPORT
At Moodles, students will also find presentations for particular lectures, including questions to answer, as well as all study texts for compulsory reading.
COMPULSORY TEXTS:
1. ntroduction
Salamon, Lester M. and Helmut K. Anheier 1992. In search of the non-profit sector. I: The question of definitions. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 125-151.
2. Civil Society and CSOs as Schools of Democracy
Dodge, Jennifer and Sonia, M. Ospina. 2015. Nonprofits as “Schools of Democracy”: A Comparative Case Study of Two Environmental Organizations. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 1–22
3. Consolidation of Civil Sector in CE Countries after 1989
Kuti, Eva. 1999. Different Eastern European countries at different crossroads. In: VOLUNTAS, Vol. 10, No. 1.
4. Political Developments and Civil Society
Dvořáková, Vladislava. 2003. Civil Society in the Czech Republic: “Impulse 99” and “Thank You, Time To Go”. In: Kopecký P. and Mudde C. eds. Uncivil Society?: ontentious Politics in Post-Communist Europe. London: Routledge.
5. Public Policy and Civil Sector in the CE Countries
Piotrowski, Grzegorz. 2020. Civil Society in Illiberal Democracy: The Case of Poland. Czech journal of political science / politologický časopis. Vol. 2, pp. 196-214.
6. CSOs´ Professionalization and Marketization
Fagan, Adam. 2005. Taking Stock of Civil-Society Development in Post-communist Europe: Evidence from the Czech Republic. Democratization, Vol.12, No.4, pp.528–547. DOI: 10.1080=13510340500226077
7. Civil Engagement in the CE Countries after 1989
Tarrow, Sidney-Tsveta Petrova. 2006. Transactional and Participatory Activism in the Emerging European Polity: The Puzzle of East-Central Europe. Comparative Political Studies, Volume 20, Number 10, pp. 1-21.
8. Exit Rebellion: Participatory Effectiveness
open sources
9. Philanthropy in CE Countries
Schuyt, Theo, Jan Smit, Rene Bekkers. 2010. Constructing a Philanthropy-scale: Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. Social Work & Society, Volume 8, Issue 1.
10. Volunteering in CE Countries
Hustinx, L., Cnaan, R.A., Handy, F. 2010. The Navigating Theories of Volunteering: The hybrid map for a komplex phenomenon. Journal of the Theory of Social Behaviour, 40 (4), 410-434.
11. Dark (Anti-)Civil Society and CSOs
Zakaria Patty. 2012. Is Corruption an Enemy of Civil Society? The case of Central and Eastern Europe. International Political Science Review 0(0) 1–21. DOI: 10.1177/0192512112466880
12. Un-civil society, populism and CSOs
Slačálek, Ondřej – Eva Svobodová. 2017. Professionalised “civil society” vs. grassroots “uncivil society”? The “Little Czech” 20 years later. Socio.hu, Special issue, pp. 23-52. DOI: 10.18030/socio.hu.2017en.23
13. Future of CS in the perspective of demokratization/de-democratization
Salamon, Lester M. The Resilient Sector: The Future of Nonprofit America.
Poslední úprava: Frič Pavol, doc. PhDr., Ph.D. (02.02.2026)
