A European civil society elite? Analysing capital and drama at the European Economic and Social Committee

Uhlin, Anders; Arvidson, Magnus

doi:10.1080/14616696.2022.2076893

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 25 publications

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“…There is a growing body of literature regarding civil society that draws on Pierre Bourdieu's notion of the field (see e.g., Barman, 2016; Galli, 2016; Georgakakis & Rowell, 2013; Johansson et al, 2021; Uhlin & Arvidson, 2022; Wagner, 2013). In this line of research, attention has commonly been on what are termed the “leaders” and “elites” of civil society (Johansson & Uhlin, 2020), without specifically examining policy professionals; that is, those employed by CSOs for strategic work.…”

Section: Field Theory Organizational Logics and Mediatizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Mellquist

2023

Politics & Policy

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The article investigates internal strategies and struggles in civil society organizations' (CSOs') policy advocacy work from the vantage point of policy professionals by using the concepts of field, symbolic capital, and logics. A main claim is that mediatization acts as a strategic‐tension mechanism within a CSO, putting communicators at the center of policy units, which in turn is consequential for the strategies chosen for the organization's policy work. In this way, mediatization as a process celebrates certain professionals and strategies as particularly relevant, creating frustration among employees not specializing in communication. The study identifies a trend for organizations to put more resources and influence into communication and less into actual policy analysis. This article combines research on organizational logics, policy professionals, and mediatization by drawing on 38 interviews with, and ethnographic work among, policy professionals in Sweden, Latvia, and the Netherlands. Related Articles Selling, Niels, and Stefan Svallfors. 2019. “The Lure of Power: Career Paths and Considerations among Policy Professionals in Sweden.” Politics & Policy 47(5): 984–1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12325. Svallfors, Stefan. 2016. “Out of the Golden Cage: PR and the Career Opportunities of Policy Professionals.” Politics & Policy 44(1): 56–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12149. Svallfors, Stefan, Erica Falkenström, Corrie Hammar, and Anna T. Höglund. 2022. “Networked Reports: Commissioning and Production of Expert Reports on Swedish Health Care Governance.” Politics & Policy 50(3): 580–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12462.

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Section: Field Theory Organizational Logics and Mediatizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Mellquist

2023

Politics & Policy

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Civil Society Elites: An Introduction

Johansson,

Meeuwisse

2023

Palgrave Studies in Third Sector Research

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This chapter explores the gap in civil society and elite studies. Researchers have recently observed elitist tendencies in civil society in which resources are concentrated to a few powerful civil society organisations and their leaders. Civil society also shows anti-democratic tendencies and the emergence of an illiberal civil society. This chapter introduces the concept of civil society elites to address the identified gap in the research, arguing that civil society elites occupy a paradoxical elite position because they are expected to represent members, beneficiaries, and constituents against powerful groups while at the same time benefiting from their elevated position and their socialisation in elite circles. Drawing on a review of elite and civil society research, this chapter proposes a study of civil society elite composition, reproduction, integration, and contestation in order to provide novel insights into the role of civil society in contemporary liberal democracies. The chapter also presents the various contributions to the book.

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Career Trajectories and Europeanisation

Santilli,

Scaramuzzino

2024

Palgrave Studies in Third Sector Research

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This chapter examines the career trajectories of Italian civil society leaders compared to those at the EU level. EU civil society organisations are a relatively recent phenomenon that has grown over the past few decades. They often act as umbrella groups with member organisations across European countries. While Italian civil society has a longer history, EU civil society leaders frequently transition from domestic roles. Our analysis explores how the career paths of these two elite groups differ and the extent to which Europeanisation impacts upon career trajectories. The chapter reveals that Italian leaders tend to have longer tenures and more internally developed career paths, which are deeply rooted within their organisations. In contrast, EU leaders more commonly transition from other roles, whether from within the same organisation’s EU office or by joining new European umbrella groups. This suggests that EU paths require more of a disruptive “leap” from domestic roles. Italian leaders are also more likely to rise through representative board positions at local/regional levels, whereas EU leaders take a more professionalised staff career track. While some nationally influential Italian leaders access EU roles, qualitative insights indicate that they face challenges in adapting individual skillsets to the more competitive European arena versus leveraging domestic organisational capital. Overall, career trajectories highlight contrasting patterns shaped by national traditions versus emerging EU logics and opportunities.

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A European civil society elite? Analysing capital and drama at the European Economic and Social Committee

Cited by 6 publications

References 25 publications

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Civil Society Elites: An Introduction

Career Trajectories and Europeanisation

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