External Support of Civil Society

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Support of civil society from abroad is a somewhat disputed subject. One important question is whether external support of civil society will hamper the development of a country, which is what some authoritarian governments in Eastern Europe and in the rest of the world keep saying¹. At AREDA we consider there is no basis upon which external support for the civil society can be generally banned.

Another question is whether groups belonging to the civil society should be helped. One argument against it would be that civil society managed to exist during the dire soviet period despite repression by the state and almost total lack of external help. During this time individuals and groups activated out of the high motivation given to them by their beliefs, especially that one day democracy and freedom will be possible. So why can current NGOs not be expected to manage without external help as well ?

The role of civil society has changed as have the tactics of its opponents. In most Eastern Europe at least formal elections are now possible and governments can't arrest people on no more than ideological grounds („counterrevolutionary“ activity). Civil society now tackles new problems like the defence of independent media, the use of ethnic differences for populist political goals, extremist nationalism, social anomy and crime, and the growing threat by clientelistic networks. They now have certain opportunities which were formerly forbidden, but now just cost money, e.g. access to the internet. Even the development aid community has higher requirements towards civil society groups, like the need to have at least an office and if possible an e-mail address. Some requirements are even not explicit: the tiny group in a small town far away from the capital simply will never get to be known to the representatives of foreign embassies and aid experts. Finally, in some countries the legal existence of NGOs a financial problem to start with: e.g. in Romania to legally register an NGO costs between two and three monthly wages.

The conditions of economic survival in a capitalist, but poor country are different from those in a communist one. There is no more mandatory, lifelong, if not freely chosen, employment. This adds a certain stress upon people willing to engage in NGO activity. High unemployment rates make open membership in critically minded NGOs a risk in economies either largely state-owned or dominated by clients of the ruling party.

Of course the existence of civil society can't depend exclusively on foreign aid without its essence to become affected.

This is why at AREDA we encourage NGOs in target countries to develop their fund raising capabilities. We recommend them to build up and use together with other NGOs resource centers. We recommend projects which have a maximum of effect with the minimum of costs. And we point a finger to attempts by governments and local authorities to dry out financially the civil society.

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