Silencing Their Critics: How Effective Are Governments in Restricting Civil Society?
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Abstract (De)
International ‘naming and shaming’ campaigns rely on domestic civil society organizations for information on local human rights conditions. To stop this flow of information, some governments restrict civil society organizations, for example by limiting their access to funding. Do restrictions reduce international ‘naming and shaming’ campaigns that rely on information by domestic civil society organizations? We argue that on the one hand, restrictions may reduce civil society organizations’ ability and motives to monitor local abuses. On the other hand, these organizations may mobilize against restrictions and find new ways of delivering information on human rights violations to international publics. Using a cross-national dataset and in-depth evidence from Egypt, we find that low numbers of restrictions trigger shaming by international non-governmental organizations. Yet, once governments impose multiple types of restrictions, it becomes harder for civil society organizations to adapt, resulting in fewer international shaming campaigns.
Language
English
HSG Profile Area
SEPS - Global Democratic Governance
Refereed
Yes
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
269133
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
Smidt2020 - Silencing their critics how government restrictions against civil society affect international naming and shaming with Perera Mitchell and Bakke.pdf
Size
540.89 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
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