By the Masses or for the Masses? The Transformation of Voluntary Action in the Czech Union for Nature Protection

Abstract

After the fall of state-socialism, efforts were made to build democracy by creating civil society organizations (CSOs) and forming independent nonprofit sectors across Central and Eastern Europe. However, most of these efforts ignored the mass organizations, state-sponsored interest groups, and quasi-independent associations in existence for many years. To understand how the transition affected existing associations and the forms of volunteerism they promoted, we investigated changes in the Czech Union for Nature Protection (ČSOP), an organization that has endured since 1979. We find that rather than retaining its emphasis on classical modes of voluntary action and participant interaction, ČSOP is favoring professionally managed activities designed to attract financial support. The case suggests that some of the participatory practices and collectivist norms advanced by associations in socialist times are being weakened as these groups attempt to secure the resources necessary to survive.

Externally sponsored contention: the channelling of environmental movement organisations in the Czech Republic after the fall of Communism

“…In other words, they had to adapt to the organisational model that was recognised by donors as the legitimate manifestation of civic associations -that of the advocacy NGO. According to the critics, the variability of potential civil society organisations was thus reduced to the narrow conception of professionalised advocacy organisations unable to engage citizens in genuine contestation and political contention (Carmin and Jehli cka 2005). Instead of social movements, public interest groups mushroomed in the country.…”

Identifying the Main Problems of Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations: Lessons from Romania

“…The environmental movement (phenomena well analysed, among others, by Jiménez, 2007;Carmin and Jehlicka, 2005;Koutalakis, 2004;Cellarius and Staddon, 2002;Keck and Sikkink, 1998) has grown in importance in the last half century, especially after the publication of Silent Spring (Carson, 1962), impacting today on businesses, government, and the general public through various channels. The 'riders of the environmental wave' appeal to 'moral suasion' and using various civil society structures as 'vessels' address fundamental beliefs and values in order to bring a change in the way we handle the environment.…”

Environmental politics in the Western Balkans: river basin management and non-governmental organisation (NGO) activity in Herzegovina

“…This is due largely to the fact that, as a consequence of low levels of foreign investment and the slow pace of economic reform and development, the prospects of organisations mobilising indigenous sources of revenue from citizens and local authorities or the state seem much more remote. Although NGOs in CEE could begin, by the end of the 1990s, to raise revenue from citizens as a consequence of increasing levels of disposable income and a general rise in prosperity amongst the middle-classes (Carmin and Jehlicka 2005), no such trend is discernible in BiH. It is no exaggeration to suggest that if donors were to withdraw entirely, most of the larger and more prominent ENGOs would simply disappear.…”