literature review on civil society

Literature review on civil society's roles in reducing tropical forest loss

About the publication.

• Published: February 2022
• Series: Evaluation report
• Type: Evaluations
• Carried out by: Cicero
• Commissioned by: Avdeling for evaluering
• Theme: Climate and environment, Natural resources (including oil), Biological diversity, Civil society, Indigenous peoples
• Serial number: 2/ 2022
• ISBN: 978-82-8369-093-4

Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) aims at reducing and reversing loss of tropical forest due to its contribution to a stable climate, protection of biodiversity and achieving sustainable development. Civil society organizations have been considered as important actors in reaching NICFIs overarching goals.

This literature review has compiled the state of knowledge of the role of civil society in reducing and reversing loss of tropical forest. The review has also assessed the rigorousness, quality and robustness of the research findings and provided an overview of knowledge gaps. The purpose of this review is to serve as a basis for upcoming evaluations of the Norwegian engagement.

The literature review was carried out by Cicero on behalf of the Department for Evaluation in Norad.

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40 Civil Society

Global Development Institute, University of Manchester

• Published: 11 December 2018
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For all its myriad debates, interpretations, and discussions, research on detailing and imagining civil society, global civil society, and associated social relations is constrained in how it conceives global social relations. There is confusion as to whether civil society and global civil society refer to an analytical concept or an actually existing reality or both simultaneously. This chapter adds a missing dimension to these discussions through engaging a critical dialogue or dialectics between concept and reality in civil society research on the nature and extent of civil society particularly as they relate to global governance and contestation. The theoretical and practical activities of civil society, seen through a dialectical lens of the world, are related in the conclusion to a greater understanding of movement and change through the processes of transversal hegemony.

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What Does Closing Civic Space Mean for Development? A Literature Review and Proposed Conceptual Framework

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Civil Society Organisations in Research: A Literature-Based Typology

• Original Paper
• Published: 26 December 2016
• Volume 28 , pages 1988–2010, ( 2017 )

Cite this article

• Stephen Rainey   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5540-6046 1 ,
• Kutoma Wakunuma 1 &
• Bernd Stahl 1  

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This article explores literatures from various sources to highlight and understand differences among key players surrounding the perceived nature and role of civil society in research from different literature streams. Including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in research activities is an integral part of a broad drive towards integration of science and society. Interest in CSO inclusion in research is widespread, but lacks a coherent focus and clarity on what CSOs are. Without this clarity, CSO-inclusive research, or policy, may be ineffective. This article addresses this gap in knowledge by presenting findings from an exploration of academic, policy and research project literature in order to come to a view on CSOs in research. This culminates in a typology of CSOs and provides a means of identifying types of CSOs. The typology shows four main types of CSO (common cause, shared voice, research-oriented, commercially oriented) and provides a definition for each type, along with a basis for the definition; an example of each; some typical terminology; typical area of activity; properties; typical mission; key areas of interest and their ‘action logic’ in research.

Le présent article explore de la documentation de sources variées pour relever et comprendre les différences entre les acteurs clés entourant la nature et le rôle perçus de la société civile dans les recherches de différents courants littéraires. L’inclusion des organisations de la société civile (OSC) dans les activités de recherche est un élément intrinsèque d’un mouvement plus large visant l’intégration de la science et de la société. L’intérêt envers l’inclusion des OSC dans la recherche est répandu, mais ces dernières ne sont pas clairement ni efficacement définies. Sans une définition claire, les recherches ou politiques incluant les OSC pourraient être inefficaces. Le présent article traite de ce manque de connaissances en présentant les résultats d’un examen de projets académiques, politiques et de recherche, pour dresser un portrait du positionnement des OSC dans la recherche. Ce travail culmine en une typologie des OSC et offre un moyen d’identifier ces dernières par type. La typologie présente quatre principaux types d’OSC (cause commune, voix mobilisées, orientées sur la recherche, à orientation commerciale) et offre une définition de chacun, en plus de ses fondements. Elle présente aussi un exemple de chaque type; des termes typiques; les domaines d’activités typiques; leurs propriétés; leur mission typique, les principaux domaines d’intérêts et leur « logique d’action » en recherche.

Zusammenfassung

Diese Abhandlung untersucht Literaturbeiträge von verschiedenen Quellen, um die Unterschiede zwischen wichtigen Akteuren im Zusammenhang mit der wahrgenommenen Beschaffenheit und Rolle der Bürgergesellschaft in Forschungen aus verschiedenen Literaturströmungen hervorzuheben und zu verstehen. Die Berücksichtigung der Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen in Forschungsarbeiten ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil weitreichender Anstrengungen zur Integration von Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Das Interesse, Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen in die Forschung einzuschließen, ist groß; doch fehlt es an einem übereinstimmenden Fokus und Klarheit darüber, was Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen sind. Ohne diese Klarheit können Forschungen oder Politik, die Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen berücksichtigen, unter Umständen ineffektiv sein. Der Beitrag geht diese Wissenslücke an und präsentiert die Ergebnisse einer Untersuchung der akademischen, politischen und forschungsbezogenen Literatur, um zu Erkenntnissen über Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen in der Forschung zu gelangen. Es ergibt sich eine Typologie der Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen und ein Instrument zur Identifizierung der Typen von Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen. Die Typologie stellt vier Haupttypen von Bürgergesellschaftsorganisationen heraus (gemeinsames Anliegen, gemeinsame Stimme, forschungsorientiert, kommerzorientiert) und präsentiert eine Definition für jeden Typen sowie eine Definitionsbasis, ein Beispiel für jeden Typ, gewisse typische Terminologie, den typischen Tätigkeitsbereich, die Eigenschaften, die typische Mission, wichtige Interessenbereiche und ihre „Handlungslogik“in der Forschung.

El presente artículo explora el material publicado de diversas fuentes para destacar y comprender las diferencias entre los actores claves que rodean la naturaleza y el papel percibidos de la sociedad civil en la investigación a partir de diferentes corrientes de material publicado. Incluir a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil (CSO, por sus siglas en inglés) en las actividades de investigación es una parte integral de un amplio impulso hacia la integración de ciencia y sociedad. El interés en la inclusión de las CSO en la investigación está extendido, pero falta un enfoque coherente y claridad sobre qué son las CSO. Sin esta claridad, la investigación que incluye a las CSO, puede ser ineficaz. El presente artículo aborda este vacío en el conocimiento presentando hallazgos de una exploración de material publicado de proyectos académicos, políticos y de investigación con el fin de llegar a una opinión sobre las CSO en la investigación. Esto culmina en una tipología de las CSO y proporciona un medio de identificar tipos de CSO. La tipología muestra cuatro tipos principales de CSO (causa común, voz compartida, orientada a la investigación, orientada al comercio) y proporciona una definición para cada tipo, junto con una base para la definición; un ejemplo de cada una; alguna terminología típica; área típica de actividad; propiedades; misión típica; áreas claves de interés y su “lógica de acción” en la investigación.

本文解释了来自各种来源的文献,以强调和了解感知本质的关键玩家以及民间团体在对不同文献流研究中扮演的角色。为研究活动包含民间团体组织(CSO)是集成科学和社会的广泛推动力不可或缺的部分。对为研究包含CSO的兴趣非常广泛,但缺少对CSO是什么连续关注和明确性。没有这一明确性,包含CSO的研究或政策可能低效。通过展示对学术、政策和研究项目文献解释的研究,本文将填补这一知识差距,以了解研究中的CSO。这在CSO类型学中达到顶点,并提供确定CSO类型的方式。该类型学展示四种主要的CSO类型(通用原因、共享声音、以研究为主、以商业为主)并提供每种类型的定义,以及定义基础;每种类型的示例;一些典型术语;典型活动领域;特性;典型使命;关键兴趣领域及其在研究中的“行动逻辑”。

يستطلع هذا المقال الآداب من مصادر مختلفة لتسليط الضوء وفهم الإختلافات بين الأشخاص الرئيسية المحيطة بتصور طبيعة ودور منظمة المجتمع المدني(CSOs) في مجال البحوث من تيارات الأدب المختلفة. بما في ذلك منظمات المجتمع المدني(CSOs) في الأنشطة البحثية هي جزء لا يتجزأ من حملة واسعة نحو التكامل بين العلم والمجتمع. الفائدة في إدراج منظمات المجتمع المدني(CSOs) في مجال البحوث على نطاق واسع، لكن تفتقر إلى التركيز المتماسك والوضوح على ما هي منظمات المجتمع المدني (CSOs). بدون هذا الوضوح، بحوث منظمات المجتمع المدني (CSOs) الشاملة، أو السياسة، قد تكون غير فعالة. تتناول هذه المقالة هذه الفجوة في المعرفة من خلال تقديم النتائج من الإكشاف الأكاديمي ، السياسة وأدب المشروع البحثي من أجل التوصل إلى وجهة نظر حول منظمات المجتمع المدني(CSOs) في مجال البحوث. هذا يتوج في تصنيف لمنظمات المجتمع المدني (CSOs)، يقدم وسيلة لتحديد أنواع منظمات المجتمع المدني (CSOs) . يبين تصنيف أربعة أنواع رئيسية من منظمات المجتمع المدني(CSOs) (السبب المشترك، صوت مشترك، بحث موجه، الموجة تجاريا”)، ويقدم تعريف لكل نوع، جنبا” إلى جنب مع الأساس للتعريف . مثال لكل منهما؛ بعض المصطلحات النموذجية؛ منطقة نموذجية للنشاط؛ الخصائص؛ مهمة نموذجية؛ المجالات الرئيسية ذات الأهمية والتي “منطق العمل” في مجال البحوث.

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Acknowledgements

This research is a development from work carried out in the research project, “Network Analysis of Civil Society Organisations’ Participation in Research Framework Programmes”, led by The Institute for Managing Sustainability at the University of Vienna, and funded by the European Commission. The authors would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by Dr. Brent Mittelstadt in the design of the literature review approach and Mr. Shingirayi Kandi in doing the initial coding.

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Rainey, S., Wakunuma, K. & Stahl, B. Civil Society Organisations in Research: A Literature-Based Typology. Voluntas 28 , 1988–2010 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-016-9816-y

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Civil Society Organizations: The Site of Legitimizing the Common Good - a Literature Review

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• Civil society
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T1 - Civil Society Organizations

T2 - The Site of Legitimizing the Common Good - a Literature Review

AU - Egholm, Liv

AU - Heyse, Liesbet

AU - Mourey, Damien

N1 - Published online: 10. October 2019

PY - 2020/2

Y1 - 2020/2

N2 - The concept of legitimacy—i.e., being regarded as “lawful, admissible, and justified” (Edwards in NGO rights and responsibilities: a new deal for global governance, The Foreign Policy Center, London, 2000)—is pivotal within civil society research. Recently, the concept has applied to wider notions concerning the civil sphere and civic action. The introductory article of this special issue aims to provide an overview of conceptualizations of legitimacy within civil society research and to point at new avenues for future research. We depart from Suddaby et al.’s (Acad Manag Ann 11(1):451–478, 2017) configurations of legitimacy within management literature: as property, perception, and process. While these configurations are also reflected in civil society literature, with legitimacy as property being prominent, they do not capture the full scope of civil society literature on legitimacy, given its multidisciplinary nature, its inclusion of multiple levels of analysis, and the presence of complementary conceptualizations of legitimacy. We posit that the legitimacy-as-relations-in-processes perspective is valuable for advancing research in civil society organizations.

AB - The concept of legitimacy—i.e., being regarded as “lawful, admissible, and justified” (Edwards in NGO rights and responsibilities: a new deal for global governance, The Foreign Policy Center, London, 2000)—is pivotal within civil society research. Recently, the concept has applied to wider notions concerning the civil sphere and civic action. The introductory article of this special issue aims to provide an overview of conceptualizations of legitimacy within civil society research and to point at new avenues for future research. We depart from Suddaby et al.’s (Acad Manag Ann 11(1):451–478, 2017) configurations of legitimacy within management literature: as property, perception, and process. While these configurations are also reflected in civil society literature, with legitimacy as property being prominent, they do not capture the full scope of civil society literature on legitimacy, given its multidisciplinary nature, its inclusion of multiple levels of analysis, and the presence of complementary conceptualizations of legitimacy. We posit that the legitimacy-as-relations-in-processes perspective is valuable for advancing research in civil society organizations.

KW - Civil society

KW - Legitimacy

KW - Literature review

KW - Non profit sector

KW - Accountability

U2 - 10.1007/s11266-019-00171-y

DO - 10.1007/s11266-019-00171-y

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0957-8765

JO - VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations

JF - VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations

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Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Regional Integration in the East African Community (EAC): A Literature Review

2021, International Affairs and Global Strategy

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Miraji Kitigwa , Mrisho Malipula

The central concern of this paper is to examine the interactions of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Regional Integration (RI) within the context of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS). It will seek to understand the interaction by exploring the traditional characters of CSOs as complementary and supportive agent of the state, and the character of RI as inter-state, intergovernmental, formal and official engagement. The exclusionary nature of regional integration in Africa and West Africa in particular is one of the biggest lacunae in governance and developmental processes over the years. The paper maintains that ECOWAS was conceived and sustained by a civil society arrangement and the construct “new regionalism” is only a restatement of the ideals propagated by the founders of the Regional Economic Community (REC) and not newness. It also maintains that the wind of democracy blowing across the world and within international institution only lends credence to the foundational philosophy of ECOWAS for equal participation and inclusivity. Indeed, the realms of civil society and regional integration provide policy makers with the opportunity to reevaluate concepts that worked in other climes before their transplantation in addressing local concerns.

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