Does Government Funding Suppress Nonprofits' Political Activity?

Abstract

A t least since de Tocqueville, autonomy from |the state has been considered a core feature of American civil society and a source of its many virtues. Recent historical and sociological research, however, shows that civil society and the state are deeply intertwined (Salamon 1995;Skocpol 1999;Smith and Lipsky 1993). Indeed, from some perspectives, it is more accurate to say that at least parts of civil society are dependent on the state rather than autonomous from it, prompting questions about the conse-quences of that dependence for the nature and functioning of civil society. But "dependence" and "autonomy," not to mention "civil society," are vague concepts that require specification to develop sound knowledge about the consequences for civil society of more or less dependence on or autonomy from the state. We contribute to knowledge about this relationship by focusing on a specific sector of civil society (nonprofit organizations), a specific form of dependence on the state (government funding),

The constraints on voluntary sector voice in a period of continued austerity

“…Isomorphic pressures, it is argued, cause mission drift, loss of 'prophetic voice' and professionalization which leads to conformity and compliance. This 'limits alternative practices and aspirations and slowly transforms self-definition', which, in the longer term, decouples voluntary organisations from their civil society origins (Wolch 1990, Chaves et al 2004, DiMaggio and Powell 1983, Milbourne and Cushman 2015p. 467, Taylor 2011.…”

“…Chaves et al (2004) concluded that state funding in the US had a positive impact on political advocacy and lobbying. They challenge neo-institutional, resource dependency perspectives concluding that 'nonprofit executives and board members .…”

“…Research shows variation in voluntary sector voice internationally (Chaves et al 2004, Salamon et al 2008, Silverman and Patterson 2011, Schmid et al 2008, Neumayr et al 2014, and heightened tensions between civil society, state regulatory and commercialising tendencies following recession (Evers and Laville 2004, Anheier 2014, Evans and Shields 2014, Butcher and Dalton 2014, Laforest 2013, Acheson and Laforest 2012. For example, Laforest (2013) note that, though different countries have followed different paths, they have faced tough decisions in response to global shifts in policy agendas and fiscal deficits which lead to greater complexity in organisational forms, regulatory and funding arrangements which may affect the ability to express critical voice.…”

Faith-Based Organizations and Social Development: The Role of Markazosshabab Al-Muslim Fil Filibbin in Women

“…However, due to its wider usage by scholars, this research opts to use the term: faith-based organizations throughout this study. Smith and Sosin considered an organization as religious or "faith-related" if it has a formal, administrative, or historical arrangement with a religious authority, or a specific mission that arises out of explicit religious values (Chaves, Stephens, & Galaskiewicz, 2014;Vanderwoerd, 2008). This study defines faith-based organization as an entity, independent of the government, which works towards improving the welfare and social development of particular communities.…”

The Impact of Government Funding on Competition in the Nonprofit Sector: An Integrative Model and Review of Empirical Research

“…The results from the research on government funding effects on advocacy are mixed (Chaves, Stephens, and Galaskiewicz 2004) or positive (Mosley 2011(Mosley ,2012) and depend to a great extent on how advocacy is defined in the model.…”