Slovakia country report. NIT 1999-2000.
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| Year of publication | 2000 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
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| Description | While observing the development of Slovak civil society, four major phases can be distinguished since November 1989 till November 1999: 1. Diversification was the process that took place till 1992. During this period the enormous growth of the number of NGOs has been recorded. Different groups and associations were defining their interests, scope of activities and relationships with each other. It was also the period of most radical and rapid changes within the society after the breakthrough. Therefore, new established NGOs were just gradually finding their way to deal with them. Extensive growth of organizations was a response on a high social demand for their services. That time of the greatest spontaneity is closely connected with problem of amateurism as well as the most serious financial problems of non-governmental sector. Yet there existed a promising relationship with the government. 2. Consolidation and professionalization of the non-governmental sector started approximately in 1992-1993. The number of NGOs got relatively stabilized and the stress was then put on the quality of their services. They started to build the effective administrative procedures and structures. Their staff and volunteers were getting skilled and trained. As well, the new inter-relations within the sector were being formed. Umbrella organizations and associations of NGOs appeared to provide the services for their members as well as to facilitate communication with sponsors, government, or foreign organizations. A set of common problems and interests came into view of NGOs representatives, so they managed to coordinate their action. 3. Emancipation was initiated by uneasy cooperation with government (after 1994 elections). It is a process of new self-identification of NGOs. The non-governmental sector seems to be no more an abstract category, but rather a very concrete community of people involved. Its representatives are aware of significance of their organizations, and also the self-consciousness of volunteers is rising. Threatening the very existence of the sector by the government resulted into its joint and common action. The campaign The Third Sector SOS brought NGOs to the sphere of politics. There appeared a need of strengthening the developmentary function of non-governmental sector. 4. Mobilization of NGOs started in the 1997, parallel with hardening the political and legislative conditions for their functioning. More and more developmentary activities have been started. Pre-election campaign OK 98 was the first major success of Slovak civil society sector to influence the politics on national level. NGOs became serious partners for the democratic political parties and for other state institutions. 5. Stabilization of NGOs after October 1998 foreordained the phase in which NGO act in a friendly environment of liberal democracy regime. This is the phase when activist potential of NGOs is rising. The relations with the government are very good. The present strength and capacity of non-governmental sector in Slovakia are rather respectable. Its conflicts with previous executive power were exhaustive, but it showed that they just helped to develop a civic self-consciousness not only among NGOs activists but among wide population as well. |
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