Participation of social CSOs in the OMC inclusion: how does it affect European governance and CSOs themselves?

Kisunaite, Aida (2012) Participation of social CSOs in the OMC inclusion: how does it affect European governance and CSOs themselves? Advisor: Dente, Prof. Bruno. pp. 323. [IMT PhD Thesis]

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Abstract

Participation of civil society actors in the OMC process in one of dominant strands in current debate on the OMC. In this paper we aim to understand how social CSOs participate in the OMC inclusion; how participation changes the original role of CSOs in European policy making; and what kind of inter-organisational relations emerge between national and European CSOs. At the European level we study four European networks: EAPN, FEANTSA, Eurochild, and EDF. At the national level we analyse Lithuanian members of these European networks: EAPN Liyhuania, Caritas Lithuania, HRMI, and LNF. Our analysis is based on data that we obtained from interviews. In the case of European networks we also use documentary analysis on the basis of the networks’ publication on the OMC. Our findings suggest that participation of European networks in the OMC processes is not homogeneous. The latter finding is an important factor in studying relation between European networks and national CSOs, and gives a background to question the validity of the hypothesis, which is present in the literature, that national CSOs’ relations with European networks increase their mobilization around NAPs/NSR. In addition to that our findings shed light on difficulties that European networks face while participating in the OMC process, which apart from S. Kröger’s attempts, were generally ignored in the literature. At the national level we do not find any procedural shifts regarding CSOs implications of participation in NAP/NSR process. Our study confirms that European networks’ consultation and information providing role remains prevailing over collaboration and empowerment also in the OMC context. Meanwhile in the case of Lithuanian CSOs, there are signs that national OMC processes have created conditions for shaping more positive attitude on a governmental side, however they have not changed CSOs role essentially. Finally we find out that Lithuanian CSOs connection with European networks, as an important factor for mobilizing them around NAPs, was only partially true for Lithuanian case. In general terms the OMC’s contribution to Europeanise Lithuanian CSOs is limited. Our finding suggest that validty of statements regarding CSOs participation in the OMC in the ‘old’ member have limited applicability for the new member states such as Lithuania, and thus indicates a need for a new research strand on European governance-civil society relations in Central and Eastern Europe.

Item Type:	IMT PhD Thesis
Subjects:	J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
PhD Course:	Political Science and Institutional Change
Identification Number:	10.6092/imtlucca/e-theses/95
NBN Number:	urn:nbn:it:imtlucca-27130
Date Deposited:	16 Apr 2013 13:17
URI:	http://e-theses.imtlucca.it/id/eprint/95

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