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The COVID-19 pandemic that started at the beginning of 2020 has put great constraints and significant challenges in organization of social and economic life. This paper analyses the civil society response to the COVID-19 pandemic and presents specific adaptations and opportuni)ties to contribute to the society in the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The stories that civil society organizations published on the webpage ZADobroBIT.hr have been analysed by the means of a qualitative research. Thematic analysis in different scopes of activities shows that civil society organizations were more focused on the general population and various vulnerable groups. Vulnerable groups were recognized as those needing particular additional support in the course of this period. The activities aiming at general population focused on newly emerged needs related to civil protection. Civil society also worked on keeping the everyday routines in communities by conducting various types of activities. Informing and educating aimed at creating new and maintaining existing information and educational practices that adapted to pandemic circumstances. The results of the research show also that organizations have significantly changed, and quickly adapted their work with the help of technology and by using volunteer work. The results of the analysis suggest that civil society has proved flexible and able to respond quickly to emerging social needs, but also emphasized the contextual limitations of the ac)tions. Thus, the paper discusses the position and role of civil society in the “new normal“, and the impact it has on its further development in the Croatian social and political environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteering is the activity of people who freely give their time in order to bring new contents and values into the lives of others, without expecting any financial gain in return, i.e. without being paid. The question arises what motivates individuals to being, but also persevere in volunteer work, and particularly what determines the motivation of young persons to decide on voluntary unpaid work. Namely, as volunteering is one of the key determinants of a developed civil society, young persons should be encouraged to volunteer work from the earliest age. Consequently the basic aim of the paper is to analyse the reasons to volunteer, particularly the reasons of young persons in the final years of their study programmes. Additionally, the paper researches the connection of selected personal characteristics of young persons (gender, personality and the area of study) with the primary reason to volunteer. On the sample of 255 students of the graduate study programmes at the University of Zagreb with its seven constituent parts (Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Kinesiology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Teacher Education) it has been established that the primary motivation to volunteer of the largest number of respondents is their own beliefs, and not any material gain, in other words they truly identify with the idea of volunteering (the motive of „worth“). The research has also shown that the incentives to participate in volunteer work depend on specific characteristics of an individual Specifically, the reasons to volunteer depend on the area of study/work of the individual (the third hypothesis on statistically significant different motivation for volunteering with regard to the area of study of the respondent is accepted), and to a lesser extent on the gender and personality traits of the individual (a large number of descriptive and some findings of the inferential statistics point to the differences in motives to volunteer with regard to gender and personality traits, but the first and the second hypotheses relevant to these relations have been rejected). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides some key research findings from the Civicus Civil Society Index Project in Croatia, which was implemented from 2008 to 2010, as a part of an international comparative research project. This was the third wave of the research project, after a pilot in 2001 and the following phase from 2003 to 2005. State of civil society in this paper is analysed in four dimensions: level of organizations, values, perceived impact and environment, which are integral parts of the "Civil Society Diamond" -- one of the best known components of this project. The research findings are put in a dynamic context, compared to the previous two research phases, thus enabling tracing of particular indicators and dimensions of civil society in a developmental perspective. Dimensions of level of organizations, that is civil society infrastructure, and that of environment have obtained the greatest score in this research. Moreover, the dimension of environment shows the greatest increase in the observed time period. We can talk about development of civil society in Croatia, especially in the following aspects: sectoral cooperation and networking, new possibilities of financing, the strengthened role of civil society as a co-governor in certain policy fields, the role of civil society organizations in meeting social needs where public services are lacking. On the other hand, unsustainable employment in civil society organizations, undue interference of the State in civil society's activities, perceived corruption in civil society organizations and generally low levels of trust in society are shown to be permanent challenges for development of civil society in Croatia. The research also recognized multiple effect of the economic crisis on civil society, most notably in the decreased financing of civil society organizations and therefore weakening of human capital in organizations, and on the other hand, by leading to greater passivity of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is the result of an action-oriented empirical research about the role, development and achievements of foundations n Croatia. As a background for empirical research, the secondary sources were analysed, as well as the results of previous research studies on the development of foundations in Croatia. The theoretical analytical framework of the development of foundations in Croatia is connected with the contemporary typology of the role of foundations and the social model of the development of foundations. This paper also outlines the developmental problems and achievements of foundations in some transitional countries. The aims of the research are to contribute to a better understanding of the environment for the development of foundations in Croatia, to explain the role and vision of the development of foundations, to estimate strengths and weaknesses of foundations and to stimulate a discussion about the role of foundations in the development of Croatia. The data on foundations were collected through a mail survey and case studies. The results of the research mainly speak of the development and the increase in the number of foundations in Croatia that mostly play a complementary role. To a smaller extent, foundations appear as innovators. The results of the research indicate a peripheral social model of the development of foundations. Scholarship foundations and foundations in the area of social welfare are dominant. Foundations encounter problems in raising funds to increase their basic assets. They are mainly managed on volunteer basis, and the state does not appear as a partner in the development of foundations. The development of foundations in Croatia will largely depend on the economic progress and new middle classes that will be more concerned about social problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the results of the CIVICUS research Civil Society Index in Croatia, conducted in 2004 and 2005, the paper discusses to what extent is civil society becoming a relevant social force. The condition and possibilities of civil society are presented through the analysis of four key dimensions shown through the civil society diamond: the structure, the environment, values and impact. Some of important sub-dimensions of civil society, such as the extents of civic participation, donations to charity, actions in the community, the co-operation between the state and civil society, the values-led framework of action and so on are discussed in more detail thereinafter. Basic strengths and weaknesses of civil society are summed up in the end of the paper, and necessary social actions, as well as the possible directions of further research studies, are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the significance and social role of social partnership, primarily from the perspective of the European experience. Historically speaking, partnership is most clearly connected with the development of social-market economy and the principle of subsidiarity, as it was applied in Germany and other European continental countries after Worm War II. The same understanding of social partnership was built into the foundations of the establishment of the European Union. However, later development led to the expansion of the social roles of social partnership, so that they became not only the consulting partners, but equal actors in the process of governing the Union. Yet this process does not lack numerous difficulties. Social partnership is faced with constant questioning, as the old model of social dialogue was consistent with the national social models, which are being weakened today, due to processes of globalization and privatisation. In spite of its problems and understatements, the European experience is very important to post-communist countries, including Croatia. The post-communist development stripped many social values of legitimacy, which led to thorough social marginalisation of all non-state actors, especially unions and civil society organisations. Social dialogue is fostered only demonstratively, almost exclusively on the national level, and not on the level of companies, branches of industry and lower levels of government. Contrary to that, this paper warns that the social development of post-communist Croatia is significantly limited without a far greater role of social and civic partners, and that the existing political-institutional framework of the social dialogue should be filled with the appropriate content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]