engleski

The European Union and Civil Society in Croatia

The EU has been giving a greater recognition of organized civil society, especially over the last couple of years. Globalization, individualization, emergence of new and diverse social problems and needs have lead to demise of the state and have put greater expectations and responsibilities on non-state actors in social policy – making. In this context, civil society organizations are often considered an important actor, and promoter of social inclusion. In the process of Europeanization, European norms, discourses and new policies are transposed at national level. When examining Croatia, current process of European integration has undoubtedly induced the Europeanization of national civil society, which can be observed in various policies and institutional arrangements. In the respective period, organized civil society has been given a greater recognition at national and local levels. The paper investigates how the EU affects the work of CSO in Croatia as the important actors in social policy – making and social service provision. Does the process of Europeanization steer the preferences of CSO when it comes to targeted users and particular policies? What are the dynamics between the incentives for strengthening of civil society coming from the EU and the existing national and local civic initiatives?

Europeanization; civil society; Croatia

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