This chapter investigates how civil society organizations (CSOs) concerned with migration and human rights issues in Italy pursue their political advocacy in light of a political environment that has become increasingly hostile due the resurgence of populist and nationalist forces. More specifically, the focus of the analysis is on the venues and strategies that Italian CSOs have explored at the transnational level to make their voices heard and to sustain their political campaigns. Based on a set of 28 interviews with CSOs working on human rights-related issues, this chapter considers how opportunities, constraints, and resources have become a relevant dimension of the advocacy of CSOs, specifically in the system of multilevel governance within Europe. We also take into account the fact that the political and legal space of the EU has seen a notable consolidation and opened up a political and institutional space for the mobilization of CSOs in Italy. The analysis demonstrates that, given their specific skill sets, the larger CSOs in particular are in a position to engage in strategic litigation at a European level, to tap into resources accessible through the EU, and to build advocacy networks across different member states. In this respect, CSOs in Italy have increasingly explored the transnational political arena for pragmatic, albeit politically pressing reasons.

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Seizing Transnational Opportunities in Times of Political Backlash: The Transformation of Civil Society Organizations’ Activism in Italy

  • Luisa Chiodi,
  • Fazila Mat,
  • Oliver Schmidtke

摘要

This chapter investigates how civil society organizations (CSOs) concerned with migration and human rights issues in Italy pursue their political advocacy in light of a political environment that has become increasingly hostile due the resurgence of populist and nationalist forces. More specifically, the focus of the analysis is on the venues and strategies that Italian CSOs have explored at the transnational level to make their voices heard and to sustain their political campaigns. Based on a set of 28 interviews with CSOs working on human rights-related issues, this chapter considers how opportunities, constraints, and resources have become a relevant dimension of the advocacy of CSOs, specifically in the system of multilevel governance within Europe. We also take into account the fact that the political and legal space of the EU has seen a notable consolidation and opened up a political and institutional space for the mobilization of CSOs in Italy. The analysis demonstrates that, given their specific skill sets, the larger CSOs in particular are in a position to engage in strategic litigation at a European level, to tap into resources accessible through the EU, and to build advocacy networks across different member states. In this respect, CSOs in Italy have increasingly explored the transnational political arena for pragmatic, albeit politically pressing reasons.