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<p>To understand the empirically observed decline of advocacy activities by progressive non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during the 2015–2023 rule by a populist government in Poland, this paper discusses the empirical study of 32 advocacy NGO activists and experts. It addresses the following research question: How have democratic backsliding and humanitarian emergency impacted advocacy NGOs in Poland and what kind of responses did NGOs come up with? The analysis provides evidence that the legal restrictions and administrative measures aimed at closing the civic space for human rights, rule of law, and environmental protection advocacy groups, while providing new opportunities for loyal NGOs, are taking place not only in authoritarian contexts, but have also been observed in a European country, a former democracy’s champion. Constructive strategies adopted by harassed advocacy NGOs included supporting the well-being of their own staff, engaging in service-provision and “transcalar advocacy” (in: Pallas&#xa0;and Bloodgood (eds)&#xa0;Beyond the boomerang: from transnational advocacy networks to transcalar advocacy in international politics,&#xa0;University of Alabama Press,&#xa0;Tuscaloosa, 2022). This research contributes to the literature on the differentiated effect of democratic backsliding on NGOs where government-funded ‘loyal’ NGOs receive targeted support while organizations working in fields essential for democracy experienced de-funding and limitation of access to political opportunity structures. It also sheds light on the impact of the Russian war on domestic NGOs.</p>

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Advocacy NGOs’ responses to democratic backsliding in Poland: results of a qualitative study conducted in 2022

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月30日

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  • Galia Chimiak

摘要

To understand the empirically observed decline of advocacy activities by progressive non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during the 2015–2023 rule by a populist government in Poland, this paper discusses the empirical study of 32 advocacy NGO activists and experts. It addresses the following research question: How have democratic backsliding and humanitarian emergency impacted advocacy NGOs in Poland and what kind of responses did NGOs come up with? The analysis provides evidence that the legal restrictions and administrative measures aimed at closing the civic space for human rights, rule of law, and environmental protection advocacy groups, while providing new opportunities for loyal NGOs, are taking place not only in authoritarian contexts, but have also been observed in a European country, a former democracy’s champion. Constructive strategies adopted by harassed advocacy NGOs included supporting the well-being of their own staff, engaging in service-provision and “transcalar advocacy” (in: Pallas and Bloodgood (eds) Beyond the boomerang: from transnational advocacy networks to transcalar advocacy in international politics, University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, 2022). This research contributes to the literature on the differentiated effect of democratic backsliding on NGOs where government-funded ‘loyal’ NGOs receive targeted support while organizations working in fields essential for democracy experienced de-funding and limitation of access to political opportunity structures. It also sheds light on the impact of the Russian war on domestic NGOs.