Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority
The article addresses the involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assisting immigrants in policy advocacy (PA) connecting the perspectives of political science and social work. In a context in which many politicians and a major part of society opposes immigration, it examines how NGOs p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/11/2/77 |
| _version_ | 1797476638582112256 |
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| author | Agnieszka Zogata-Kusz |
| author_facet | Agnieszka Zogata-Kusz |
| author_sort | Agnieszka Zogata-Kusz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The article addresses the involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assisting immigrants in policy advocacy (PA) connecting the perspectives of political science and social work. In a context in which many politicians and a major part of society opposes immigration, it examines how NGOs perceive their legitimacy and accountability concerning their attempts to influence policymaking. It also studies how the attitude of the society towards these NGOs affects their work. The analysis builds on the multimethod research combining qualitative and quantitative approaches carried out among Czech NGOs. Among the key findings is that, when talking about legitimacy, NGOs’ representatives refer mainly to themselves and their own vision of society. This is however a manifestation of <i>internalized external legitimacy sources</i> such as democratic principles and existing laws, together with experience and direct contact with clients, as well as moral obligations. As for accountability, despite many people identify these NGOs as irresponsible <i>welcomers</i>, in fact most of them feel accountable primarily to society (in particular its weakest parts), then to immigrants and finally to themselves. The negative attitude of the majority toward these NGOs clearly affects their PA activities, e.g., their access to authorities, the raised topics and applied tools or types of arguments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:04:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bada3bef26da46849fed5730b9e4e98d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:04:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-bada3bef26da46849fed5730b9e4e98d2023-11-23T22:05:25ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602022-02-011127710.3390/socsci11020077Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the MajorityAgnieszka Zogata-Kusz0Department of Christian Social Work, Sts Cyril and Methodius Faculty of Theology, Palacký University Olomouc, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech RepublicThe article addresses the involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assisting immigrants in policy advocacy (PA) connecting the perspectives of political science and social work. In a context in which many politicians and a major part of society opposes immigration, it examines how NGOs perceive their legitimacy and accountability concerning their attempts to influence policymaking. It also studies how the attitude of the society towards these NGOs affects their work. The analysis builds on the multimethod research combining qualitative and quantitative approaches carried out among Czech NGOs. Among the key findings is that, when talking about legitimacy, NGOs’ representatives refer mainly to themselves and their own vision of society. This is however a manifestation of <i>internalized external legitimacy sources</i> such as democratic principles and existing laws, together with experience and direct contact with clients, as well as moral obligations. As for accountability, despite many people identify these NGOs as irresponsible <i>welcomers</i>, in fact most of them feel accountable primarily to society (in particular its weakest parts), then to immigrants and finally to themselves. The negative attitude of the majority toward these NGOs clearly affects their PA activities, e.g., their access to authorities, the raised topics and applied tools or types of arguments.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/11/2/77legitimacyaccountabilitypolitical participationmacro practice social workcivil societyCzech Republic |
| spellingShingle | Agnieszka Zogata-Kusz Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority Social Sciences legitimacy accountability political participation macro practice social work civil society Czech Republic |
| title | Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority |
| title_full | Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority |
| title_fullStr | Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority |
| title_short | Policy Advocacy and NGOs Assisting Immigrants: Legitimacy, Accountability and the Perceived Attitude of the Majority |
| title_sort | policy advocacy and ngos assisting immigrants legitimacy accountability and the perceived attitude of the majority |
| topic | legitimacy accountability political participation macro practice social work civil society Czech Republic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/11/2/77 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT agnieszkazogatakusz policyadvocacyandngosassistingimmigrantslegitimacyaccountabilityandtheperceivedattitudeofthemajority |