Background
Voluntary organisations can influence political processes either within or outside the political system. They may participate in corporative arrangements, where they are formally included in policy-making, or they may use the action channel, which includes protests and legal actions. Involving civil society organisations can enhance the legitimacy of political processes but can also undermine it. In Norway, structural changes since the 1980s have affected the organisations' role in decision-making processes, with the reduction of corporative channels and increased digital communication. This has made policy-making processes more accessible, although privileged access for "corporative insiders" persists. Conventional explanations for biases in access focus on resource differences, but the state can also influence civil society to strengthen its own governance capacity. Public support can provide resources and influence but can also undermine the organisations' autonomy. There is a need for more research on the relationship between public support and political advocacy, especially with new data available.
Project Approach
The project consists of two subprojects.
Subproject 1: The Democratic Function of the Hearing System
- Investigates which civil society organisations participate in hearings in Norway, differences in the design of hearings, and the relationship between financial support and participation.
- Utilises quantitative data from hearings, tilskudd.no, and organisational surveys to analyse participation bias and influence.
Subproject 2: Political Protests Inside and Outside the Legal System
- Explores the shift towards protest activity and the use of the legal system, as well as characteristics of protests that transition into legal processes.
- Combines quantitative and qualitative methods, including data from media sources, court decisions, and interviews with climate and environmental organisations.
The project will also analyse the role of civil society organisations in legitimising political decisions and correcting policies that lack legitimacy. It will focus particularly on the climate/environment policy field, where civil society can ease tensions and legitimise decisions. Data will be sourced from various channels, including websites, databases, and interviews, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the organisations' strategies and influence.
The project aims to deliver two sub-reports by the end of 2028 and 2029, and publish at least one international journal article.
