“Goulash democracy”: nonprofit organisational responses in the changing civic space of Hungary

• In Event: Institutional Theory and Civil Society Organizations in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Existing research on civil societies in restricted environments predominantly focuses on advocacy organisations. Scholars typically analyse how states control the civic space, the justifications they use and the impact of their measures on independent civic action. Thus, we know very little about how service-providing organisations respond to the restrictions, despite growing recognition of their democratizing potential. Tury’s paper explores how different levels and layers of government affect organisational response in an environment where pressure is more informal than formal. Building on Oliver’s (1991) framework, and utilising a qualitative research design, this study examines how three types of service-providing nonprofits that operate in the politically sensitive fields related to immigrants, LGBTQ or drug affected populations manoeuvre the restrictions in Hungary. She argues that local mayors can be effective in both mitigating and adding to the pressure. The presence of a supranational actor – the European Union – is beneficial, especially when it provides direct funding to organisations. Most service-providing nonprofits do engage in some form of resistance, at times even beyond their specific issue areas. Importantly, this paper shows that service-providing organisations less dependent on the government turn towards the riskier path of advocacy, changing even their organisational profile.

Authors

• Krisztina Túry, Corvinus University Budapest

• Peter Raeymaeckers, University of Antwerp