State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach

The article is dedicated to the interaction between the German state and civil society (CS). Germany is known as a developed democratic state with a strong CS in which non-governmental organizations play an active role. They also help the German government to implement its foreign policy vision and...

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Main Author: Ekaterina P. Timoshenkova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Europe 2023-06-01
Series:Современная Европа
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sov-europe.ru/images/pdf/2023/3-2023/Timoshenkova-3-23.pdf
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author Ekaterina P. Timoshenkova
author_facet Ekaterina P. Timoshenkova
author_sort Ekaterina P. Timoshenkova
collection DOAJ
description The article is dedicated to the interaction between the German state and civil society (CS). Germany is known as a developed democratic state with a strong CS in which non-governmental organizations play an active role. They also help the German government to implement its foreign policy vision and maintain its image abroad. The article addresses the question whether German NGOs are equal partners of the state and to what extent they are independent in reality. The author analyses the legal status and financing features of German NGOs, examines the concepts of interaction between the state and CSOs and highlights their underlying principles. The study makes a clear distinction between the academic approach and the state/government approach. For this purpose, the author examines theoretical papers by German academics and analyses conducted by the Bundestag, especially the "Ethics Commissions" of 2002, and compares the German approach to NGOs with other international practices. The article reveals the main points of interaction between the state and CSOs during the chancellorship of G. Schroeder and A. Merkel. The red-green coalition model is analyzed in more detail, as it has become the basis of the modern "social contract". The author concludes that there is no civil society in the classical scientific sense in the FRG. The German state not only actively supports its NGOs financially, but also defines the rules of engagement by clearly identifying organizations that seek political influence.
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spelling doaj-art-167df7afaeb34daa860b5cc62e2160092025-08-20T03:41:04ZengRussian Academy of Sciences, Institute of EuropeСовременная Европа0201-70832023-06-01311813010.31857/S0201708323030105State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German ApproachEkaterina P. Timoshenkova0Institute of Europe Russian Academy of SciencesThe article is dedicated to the interaction between the German state and civil society (CS). Germany is known as a developed democratic state with a strong CS in which non-governmental organizations play an active role. They also help the German government to implement its foreign policy vision and maintain its image abroad. The article addresses the question whether German NGOs are equal partners of the state and to what extent they are independent in reality. The author analyses the legal status and financing features of German NGOs, examines the concepts of interaction between the state and CSOs and highlights their underlying principles. The study makes a clear distinction between the academic approach and the state/government approach. For this purpose, the author examines theoretical papers by German academics and analyses conducted by the Bundestag, especially the "Ethics Commissions" of 2002, and compares the German approach to NGOs with other international practices. The article reveals the main points of interaction between the state and CSOs during the chancellorship of G. Schroeder and A. Merkel. The red-green coalition model is analyzed in more detail, as it has become the basis of the modern "social contract". The author concludes that there is no civil society in the classical scientific sense in the FRG. The German state not only actively supports its NGOs financially, but also defines the rules of engagement by clearly identifying organizations that seek political influence.http://www.sov-europe.ru/images/pdf/2023/3-2023/Timoshenkova-3-23.pdfgermanycivil societybundestagngossocial movementsthird sectorsoft powerpolitical influencesocial contracth. schroeder
spellingShingle Ekaterina P. Timoshenkova
State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach
Современная Европа
germany
civil society
bundestag
ngos
social movements
third sector
soft power
political influence
social contract
h. schroeder
title State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach
title_full State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach
title_fullStr State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach
title_full_unstemmed State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach
title_short State and Civil Society: Peculiarities of the German Approach
title_sort state and civil society peculiarities of the german approach
topic germany
civil society
bundestag
ngos
social movements
third sector
soft power
political influence
social contract
h. schroeder
url http://www.sov-europe.ru/images/pdf/2023/3-2023/Timoshenkova-3-23.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT ekaterinaptimoshenkova stateandcivilsocietypeculiaritiesofthegermanapproach