At a time when democracy and justice are under siege from rising authoritarianism and unchecked corporate influence, civil society stands as a courageous counterforce — amplifying the voices of the voiceless and holding power to account. From shaping EU policies to protecting rights and the planet, civil society is not just a stakeholder but a lifeline for the values we hold dear. Now, more than ever, we must rally behind the organisations that remind us that democracy thrives when the people take a stand. Ben Snelson reports.
What is civil society?
The term “civil society” is thrown around a lot. But what is it, and what does it do? Simply put, it is the layers of organisations — local, national, regional, European and global — that exist or are set up with the objective of guiding, shaping and informing the work of policymakers around a specific sector or issue.
Civil society is a crucial bridge between citizens and the policymakers who represent them — and who develop policies and legislation that affect them. A key component of any truly democratic system, it serves to carry public opinion, give voice to the voiceless, and deliver important messages to decisionmakers on their behalf. Without civil society, our lives and the world we live in would likely look very different…
Civil society in Europe
Stand anywhere in Brussels and you’re likely within earshot of a conversation involving the mysterious sounding ‘EU Bubble’. The EU Bubble is sometimes misunderstood as just the official bodies forming the European Union: the EU Parliament (the legislative branch), the EU Commission (the executive branch) and the EU Council(made up of the leaders and governments of each EU Member State).
Aside from these larger, more obvious public institutions and many other sector-specific EU agencies, the EU Bubble also includes a whole array of other actors, from private sector industry lobbies to civil society, all of whom engage in advocacy activities to influence policies that affect them, or those they represent.
Private business lobbies are everywhere. Certain wealthy industry interests in the EU Bubble, usually supported by mega PR firms, have earned themselves notoriety. The role of civil society, particularly in this context, is of a vital counterweight to undue influence and unwarranted access from certain opaque lobbies, many of the efforts of which are threatening the foundations of our democracy. Civil society has long fulfilled a vital role in this sprawling ecosystem. Often operating with often scarce resources, civil society organisations (CSO) exist to ensure that the voices of people are heard, no matter how loud those voices with money are.
CSOs support policymaking in every country in Europe, from the capitals to the rural regions. They connect communities across Europe that either represent the same ideals or that call for the same policies, typically with a democratic mandate to speak on behalf of members. Many such CSOs have a well-worn history (the EEB turned 50 this month!), and hundreds have a home in Brussels.
Brussels: more than meets the eye
A town that to some from the outside might appear dull and bureaucratic, Brussels offers a remarkable and unique space for engagement, openness, debate, exchange, teaching and learning — all of which feed into the development of policies that shape the lives of people across the EU and beyond.
With each CSO usually representing a specific issue or community (e.g. forest protection, disability rights, consumer interests or a particular religious group), they offer valuable expertise in their areas — expertise which policymakers can learn from, and which can inform and positively shape the policies that in turn affect people at scale and our planet at large. In Europe, and within the ‘EU Bubble’, civil society is a fundamental cog in the wheel of politics that keeps debate informed (based in fact), ensures people’s voices reach the ears of policymakers who need to hear, and serves a fundamental role of ‘checks and balances’ — a cornerstone in the building blocks of democracy.
Why does it matter now?
A rise in authoritarian governance is clamping down on civil society globally, often using intimidation and violence. Painful and worrying scenes remind us that democracy is fragile and, much like any living ecosystem, in need of nurturing and protection from toxic influences that seek to harm it.
Across Europe, our political culture has been sleepwalking towards right-wing populism, giving oxygen to narratives that seek to frame CSOs’ efforts as somehow undemocratic or dangerous. Such claims could not be further from the truth and are themselves an affront to democracy, given that civil society is fundamentally — and by definition — born from and sustained by democratic process. Instead, the obvious question to ask is: who benefits the most from muzzling the voice of those advocating for the rights of people and the planet?
Power of the people, by the people, for the people
CSOs are made up of people. People who care about making the world a better place by advocating for legislation in their respective fields to bring about positive (and often urgently needed) change.
Civil society serves as a constructive stakeholder in the development of policies that are fair and make sense — for everyone affected, today and tomorrow — not only those seeking to make a fast buck from them. Our take: lawmaking should aim to maximise benefits for society. Rules and regulations are the tools that help society evolve through the exercise of democracy at all levels. We need smart policies that solve the urgent challenges we are facing.
Take just one example: the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, a centralised political initiative that brought together industry, farmers, civil society and policymakers to build understanding and agreement on how to pave the way for a sustainable and fair future of farming. It led to a historic consensus that “business as usual is no longer an option”, outlining clear actions to be taken by EU policymakers within the first 100 days of the new mandate.
There’s good in this world – and it’s worth fighting for!
Civil society exists to speak the truth. To cut through the waffle, expose disinformation and malign forces at work seeking to undermine democracy, or weaken the rules and regulations that exist to protect people – and the planet we call home.
Civil society — and the people that drive its work forward — are vital for the health of people, planet, and the foundations of democracy. It must be defended at all costs.
If democracy and the environment are your thing, join your local EEB member now. If you are not involved, get involved.
(This piece is an adaptation of the EEB’s most recent META Newsletter. If you have not yet signed up, join over 28,000 others who are to receive weekly green news in your inbox or on LinkedIn).
