A European civil society elite? Analysing capital and drama at the European Economic and Social Committee

Uhlin, Anders; Arvidson, Magnus

doi:10.1080/14616696.2022.2076893

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 25 publications

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“…There is a growing body of literature regarding civil society that draws on Pierre Bourdieu's notion of the field (see e.g., Barman, 2016; Galli, 2016; Georgakakis & Rowell, 2013; Johansson et al, 2021; Uhlin & Arvidson, 2022; Wagner, 2013). In this line of research, attention has commonly been on what are termed the “leaders” and “elites” of civil society (Johansson & Uhlin, 2020), without specifically examining policy professionals; that is, those employed by CSOs for strategic work.…”

Section: Field Theory Organizational Logics and Mediatizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Mellquist

2023

Politics & Policy

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The article investigates internal strategies and struggles in civil society organizations' (CSOs') policy advocacy work from the vantage point of policy professionals by using the concepts of field, symbolic capital, and logics. A main claim is that mediatization acts as a strategic‐tension mechanism within a CSO, putting communicators at the center of policy units, which in turn is consequential for the strategies chosen for the organization's policy work. In this way, mediatization as a process celebrates certain professionals and strategies as particularly relevant, creating frustration among employees not specializing in communication. The study identifies a trend for organizations to put more resources and influence into communication and less into actual policy analysis. This article combines research on organizational logics, policy professionals, and mediatization by drawing on 38 interviews with, and ethnographic work among, policy professionals in Sweden, Latvia, and the Netherlands. Related Articles Selling, Niels, and Stefan Svallfors. 2019. “The Lure of Power: Career Paths and Considerations among Policy Professionals in Sweden.” Politics & Policy 47(5): 984–1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12325. Svallfors, Stefan. 2016. “Out of the Golden Cage: PR and the Career Opportunities of Policy Professionals.” Politics & Policy 44(1): 56–73. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12149. Svallfors, Stefan, Erica Falkenström, Corrie Hammar, and Anna T. Höglund. 2022. “Networked Reports: Commissioning and Production of Expert Reports on Swedish Health Care Governance.” Politics & Policy 50(3): 580–97. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12462.

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Section: Field Theory Organizational Logics and Mediatizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Mellquist

2023

Politics & Policy

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Civil Society Elites: An Introduction

Johansson,

Meeuwisse

2023

Palgrave Studies in Third Sector Research

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This chapter explores the gap in civil society and elite studies. Researchers have recently observed elitist tendencies in civil society in which resources are concentrated to a few powerful civil society organisations and their leaders. Civil society also shows anti-democratic tendencies and the emergence of an illiberal civil society. This chapter introduces the concept of civil society elites to address the identified gap in the research, arguing that civil society elites occupy a paradoxical elite position because they are expected to represent members, beneficiaries, and constituents against powerful groups while at the same time benefiting from their elevated position and their socialisation in elite circles. Drawing on a review of elite and civil society research, this chapter proposes a study of civil society elite composition, reproduction, integration, and contestation in order to provide novel insights into the role of civil society in contemporary liberal democracies. The chapter also presents the various contributions to the book.

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Civil society elites: managers of civic capital

Sevelsted,

Johansson

2024

Theor Soc

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The article takes the first steps towards a general theory of civil society elites, a concept not fully developed in either elite or civil society research. This conceptual gap hampers academic and public understanding of the dynamics at the top of civil society. To address this, the authors rely on the theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu to build a theory of civil society elites as managers of civic capital. This role is illustrated through examples from the differently institutionalised UK and Nordic civil societies. The first part of the article introduces the notion of civic capital and its emergence during the 19th century. The second part focuses on elite positions in civil society fields, demonstrating how civil society elites, as managers of civic capital, navigate between their constituents and other elite groups. These elites wield the power to consecrate social relations while misrecognising their own symbolic and economic gains. Recent scandals in the climate movement and UK and Nordic civil societies shed light on the symbolic aspects of the positions of civil society elites. This comprehensive analysis contributes to elite and civil society research and enriches public discussions about the role of civil society leaders in society.

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A European civil society elite? Analysing capital and drama at the European Economic and Social Committee

Cited by 5 publications

References 25 publications

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Do communicators take over? Mediatization and conflicts in civil society

Civil Society Elites: An Introduction

Civil society elites: managers of civic capital

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