CSOs in CEECs have faced a twofold challenge: to play a role first in the post-communist transition by introducing democratic values; followed by a particular role in the process of accession to the EU bringing about the Europeanization of both the internal political context and national social actors. The challenges to face in the post accession process are the changing functions of CSOs.

Introducing democratic values and western type of interaction have lead to establishing of entrepreneurial type of CSOs. The major focus of the second phase – the europeanisation – was the monitoring and bringing the EU civic culture to the national civil society landscape. In the post accession period CSOs are facing a twofold shift towards new roles: becoming service providers (that could undermine the critical thinking) and serving as watchdog agencies (with a danger for potential mimicria of control functions because of heavy dependence on funding coming from EU/national budget).

New NGO actors are also in shape: Internet (consumers) and the blogs (blocking power) are leading to enhanced civil control. Becoming part of the transnational EU public space where networks are spontaneous will open the question whether the virtual civil society will become more authentic.

We seek papers that address the following questions and topics:

-          From an institutional perspective: the institutionalization of new actors with enhanced legitimacy and representation will open the question how old CSOs will react to the appearance of new actors (which have to be seen as an alternative to both the authorities and the old NGOs)?

-          Who and how will participate on EU political arena and policy-making processes: CSOs claiming legitimacy through activism or CSOs claiming legitimacy through leadership and representation?

-          Where (in which fields) and how far (in what degree) will civil society in CEECs act of mediator and policy taker responding to influences of other driving forces (public authorities, the EU, business, international NGO networks, etc.), and where and how far it will undertake a more pro-active stance with concrete tangible impact on EU policy-related outcomes?

-          What forms of adaptation for CSOs to a diffused power in a multi-level governance system?

-          In what way are agenda setting capacities of CSOs in post accession period developing?

Papers are invited on any of these broad issues. Interested academics and researchers are kindly requested to indicate their interest by submitting an abstract of no more than 250 words by April 10^th 2009 to becsa@becsa.bg

Further information

For any additional information, please make contact with Mr. Krassimir Nikolov, BECSA Secretary General; email: knikolov@becsa.org or Mrs. Katia Hristova; email: katia@transparency-bg.org