Interaction of the nongovernmental organizations and authorities: the comparative analysis of the legislation

Abstract

Non-Government (NGO) or Non-Profit Organisations (NPO) have been seen as an excellent way to promote civic participation in state policies around the world, allowing the promotion of public interest from below. It is in the budding partnerships between NPOs and state bodies that much of the rejuvenation of civil society and a reworking of the relationships between the state and citizens have occurred. Russia is considered to differ starkly from the West in this regard, with NGOs subject to far tighter regulation and supervision in this respect. Given the state’s dominance in Russia, many have remarked on the dominance of the client-patron model in NGO-state relations. This article provides a comparative analysis of the legislation and regulatory statues in place with regards to the creation and activities of NPOs in the both Russian Federation and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This includes a consideration of the interactions between the state and NPOs. Also under review is the way NPOs in both regions communicate and cooperate with foreign agencies. What is revealed is an impressive degree of consistency in the existing legislation in Russia and the Central and Eastern Europe. In recent times, some regional Russian legislators have been moving towards the partnership model in the interactions between the state and NPOs. However, overall, in both legislative and established practise the patron-client model remains dominant for most of Russia. NPOs remain sidelined from the key decision making process in state bodies. Instead of treating the state as a partner, NPOs often play the role of petitioner, hoping to be the recipient of state funding and support. The results of this analysis are offered for the development of new regulatory statutes for NPOs in Russia that can stimulate a spirit of social partnership between the various sectional interests involved, between the state bodies and NPOs.