New approaches to defending global civil society

In recent decades, many donors have argued that there is an international legal right to foreign funding, but this has not been effective in halting the assault on civil society organisations (CSOs). This approach now faces stronger headwinds because of the shift away from a liberal world order as norm competition deepens between democratic and illiberal or nondemocratic regimes. At the same time, many western democratic states have tightened funding rules for their civil society to defend themselves against destabilisation efforts by Russia and other powers. As Javier Sajuria notes in this report, other countries accuse western governments of double standards and the foreign funding of civil society has become further politicised. [excerpt]