Over the last 10 years an increasing number of governments have adopted new laws and practices that constrain civic space – the set of conditions that allow civil society and individuals to organise, participate and communicate freely and without discrimination, and in doing so, influence the political and social structures around them. These constraints have taken a wide variety of forms, and affect a diverse range of actors, but many have targeted formal civil society.
Civil society does not, however, exist in isolation, being an integral part of democratic systems and societies. Therefore, current efforts by governments around the world to ‘shrink’ the space for civil society – or to keep that space at very minimal level – need to be understood as part of a wider trend towards electoral authoritarianism, illiberal democracy or political backsliding – a trend that is affecting all stakeholders in democratic societies, not only civil society.
The issue of closing civic space has important consequences for the work of democracy assistance providers. Parliaments play a critical role in shaping civic space. Governments often use new legislation to close civic space by stressing the need for effective regulation and oversight (often highlighting the value of preventing fraud, deterring terrorist funding, or stopping ‘foreign agents’ from unduly influencing domestic affairs). This argument provides a veneer of legitimacy, deflecting international and domestic criticism while ignoring the main purpose of this legislation: to weaken any potential opposition.
This guide is designed to provide democracy practitioners and other interested readers with:
- An explanation of what civic space is, and what attempts to close civic space look like in practice;
- An overview of data sources that can be used to measure changes in civic space, including the strengths and weaknesses of different sources of information;
- An explanation of some of the underlying risks;
- Practical action points for incorporating the issue of civic space into projects;
- Guidance on how to respond to some of the tough questions that may come up in this area; and
- Information on other useful resources that practitioners can draw on to support their work on civic space.
Katika miaka kumi iliyopita, idadi kubwa ya serikali zimepitisha sheria na mazoea mapya ambayo yanazuia nafasi ya kiraia - seti ya hali ambazo huruhusu jamii ya kiraia na watu binafsi kuandaa, kushiriki na kuwasiliana kwa uhuru na bila ubaguzi, na kwa kufanya hivyo, kuathiri miundo ya kisiasa na kijamii inayowazunguka. Vizuizi hivi vimechukua aina mbalimbali za fomu, na kuathiri mbalimbali ya watendaji, lakini wengi wamekuwa walengwa rasmi jamii ya kiraia. Hata hivyo, jamii ya kiraia haipo peke yake, ikiwa ni sehemu muhimu ya mifumo ya kidemokrasia na jamii. Kwa hivyo, juhudi za sasa za serikali ulimwenguni kote za 'kupunguza' nafasi ya jamii ya kiraia - au kuweka nafasi hiyo katika kiwango cha chini sana - zinahitaji kueleweka kama sehemu ya mwenendo mkubwa kuelekea mamlaka ya uchaguzi, demokrasia isiyo ya huria au kurudi nyuma kwa kisiasa - mwenendo ambao unaathiri wadau wote katika jamii za kidemokrasia, sio jamii ya kiraia tu. Suala la kufunga nafasi ya kiraia lina matokeo muhimu kwa kazi ya watoa msaada wa demokrasia. Bunge lina jukumu muhimu katika kuunda nafasi ya kiraia. Serikali mara nyingi hutumia sheria mpya kufunga nafasi ya kiraia kwa kusisitiza hitaji la udhibiti na usimamizi mzuri (mara nyingi ikikazia thamani ya kuzuia udanganyifu, kuzuia ufadhili wa kigaidi, au kuzuia "mawakala wa kigeni" kutoka kwa ushawishi usiofaa wa mambo ya ndani). Hoja hii inatoa veneer ya uhalali, kuepusha ukosoaji wa kimataifa na wa ndani wakati kupuuza lengo kuu la sheria hii: kudhoofisha upinzani wowote wa uwezekano. Mwongozo huu umekusudiwa kuwapa watendaji wa demokrasia na wasomaji wengine wanaopendezwa na: - Ufafanuzi wa nini nafasi ya kiraia ni, na jinsi majaribio ya kufunga nafasi ya kiraia yanaonekana katika mazoezi; - Mtazamo wa vyanzo vya data vinavyoweza kutumiwa kupima mabadiliko katika nafasi ya kiraia, pamoja na nguvu na udhaifu wa vyanzo tofauti vya habari; - Ufafanuzi wa baadhi ya hatari za msingi; - Vitu vya vitendo vya vitendo vya kuingiza suala la nafasi ya kiraia katika miradi; - Mwongozo wa jinsi ya kujibu maswali magumu ambayo yanaweza kutokea katika eneo hili.