Civil Society Elites: A Research Agenda

Abstract

This editorial introduces the thematic issue on ‘civil society elites,’ a topic that has been neglected in elite research as well as civil society studies. It elaborates on the concept of ‘civil society elites’ and explains why this is an important emerging research field. By highlighting different methodological approaches and key findings in the contributions to the thematic issue, this article aims at formulating an agenda for future research in this field.

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

“…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. To the extent that they have been recognized at all, they have been seen as just one type of elite agent among others.…”

Challenging Civil Society Elites in Poland: The Dynamics and Strategies of Civil Society Actors

“…23 This trend is partly related to the fact that economic and political elites are increasingly aware that they need NgOs as partners in solving complex challenges, such as climate change, inequality, and human rights. 24 Civil society organizations often possess significant knowledge, thus can offer their assistance and expertise on the national and transnational level, but they also claim to represent the voice of the people, which translates into symbolic capital valuable in the field of politics. Cooperation with political actors may endanger the image of an organization as an independent actor, but it may also translate into wider recognition of NgOs, the enhancement of their status, and even greater access to policy-making processes.…”

Personalisation at the top of civil societies? Legitimation claims on civil society elites in Europe

“…Top civil society leaders are today prominent actors as they are formally and personally charged with the key tasks of maintaining and representing powerful organisations. Over the last several decades, increased resource stratification in European civil societies has led to the disproportionate concentration of political and economic resources in the hands of a small group of large civil society organisations (hereafter CSOs) (Johansson and Uhlin, 2020; Lindellee and Scaramuzzino, 2020). Organisations like Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, the World Wildlife Fund, and Caritas are examples of major players in their respective contexts.…”

“…Leaders of such large CSOs tend to enjoy status and prestige not only among other civil society leaders but also among politicians and the general public. This is further fuelled by oligarchic tendencies within major CSOs, turning leaders into civil society elites (Johansson and Uhlin, 2020; Michels, 1967). Specifically, studies observe widening gaps between constituencies and the leaders who are supposed to represent them (e.g.…”