European Civic Academy
The European Civic Forum (ECF) comprises nearly 100 associations and NGOs across 29 European countries. These include large federations deeply embedded in local communities, national platforms uniting hundreds of thousands of NGOs, as well as human rights and campaigning organizations. Additionally, smaller groups operating at the community level or engaging with the public on local matters are also part of this network.
The ECF holds the belief that associations play a pivotal role in organizing and directing citizens' needs and aspirations towards institutions. Across different countries, civic organizations possess varying statuses and modes of operation. They also undertake diverse tasks. However, regardless of location, they consistently stand on the forefront, bearing witness to the precarious situations faced by individuals. They strive to meet people's demands for effective access to their rights and shed light on the limitations and adverse consequences of public policies.
The European Civic Academy (ECA) was launched by the European Civic Forum in 2016 to connect and build bridges between civil society and academic agendas, to provide space for civil society actors to discuss with academics and identify priorities and possibilities for strengthening CSOs’ efforts in enhancing civic and democratic spaces in Europe.
The ECA 2022 will be organised in cooperation with the Centre on Social Movement Studies (Cosmos) of the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence. It will bring together laureates from past editions of the Civic Pride Awards to discuss with leading civic actors and academics lessons learn from their inspiring mobilisations and victories.
How can we sustain mobilisations and civic resilience when democracy and the urgency of the issues at stake seem following different timeframes, when we experience many defeats and challenges? What are the factors that can support the creation of positive social and democratic change in society and in the policy-making? What lessons can we learn from civil society’s successes? How can we think “victories” in ways that take into account the non-linear path of progressive change? What skills, capacities, resources and infrastructures does civil society need to achieve its goals in a coherent manner?
The discussions delved into pressing questions: How do we sustain mobilizations and civic resilience in the face of different timeframes and challenges? What factors contribute to positive social and democratic change? What lessons can we glean from civil society's successes?
Exploring the non-linear path of progressive change, we examined how victories can be redefined. This experience has deepened my understanding of the multifaceted landscape of civic engagement.
Key takeaways:
1️⃣ Emphasis on sustained mobilization and civic resilience.
2️⃣ Identification of factors driving positive social and democratic change.
3️⃣ Learning from civil society's triumphs.
4️⃣ Adapting to the non-linear nature of progressive change.
5️⃣ Recognizing the essential skills, capacities, resources, and infrastructures needed for coherent civil society action.
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