Civil Organizations: Formation and Dissolution in Political Turmoil

• In Event: Poster Session: Comparative Politics in Developing Countries & Foreign Policy
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Comparative Politics in Developing Countries

Abstract

Civic organizations are essential for democratic development. They mobilize various social groups, thus spreading democratic norms and demanding accountability from elites for their actions through public protests. So far, little attention has been paid to the possible demise of these organizations, although this can be a sign of a democratic development process coming to an end. Especially in turbulent times of political upheaval, civic organizations face particular challenges in avoiding their dissolution. We build a typology of organizational termination that takes into account the specific challenges civic organizations in the global South face. We provide initial empirical evidence using original data on all contentiously active civic organizations in Africa and Central America/Caribbean (1990 to 2020).

Author

• Johannes Vüllers, University Duisburg-Essen