The roles of civil society organizations (CSOs) have become more complex, especially in the context of changing relationships with nation states and the international community. In some instances, state-civil society relations have worsened, leading some experts and activists to speak of a “shrinking space” for civil society. How widespread is this phenomenon? Are these more isolated occurrences or indeed part of a more general development? How could countries achieve and maintain an enabling environment for civil society to contribute to social cohesion, to enhance political participation and processes, to encourage social innovations, and to serve as a vehicle for philanthropic impulses? Based on quantitative profiling and expert surveys, the brief arrives at initial recommendations on how governments and civil society could find ways to relate to each other in both national and multilateral contexts.

Task Force: Social Cohesion Global Governance and the Future of Politics