Since around the turn of the millennium, the European Union has in many ways encouraged civil society mobilization, organization and participation, providing funding as well as channels for access and dialogue. This volume provides a novel approach to the study of EU civil society, exploring a relational sociological approach to the subject, focusing on the interactions and interrelations between civil society actors and the forms of capital that structure the fields and sub-fields of EU civil society.
The collection investigates patterns of conflict and cooperation, dynamics between emerging actors and incumbents and the resources that give standing and prestige among civil society actors. It draws on a set of unique and up-to-date empirical studies, with chapters on organized civil society actors working in areas of social policy, anti-discrimination and development, whilst other contributions focus on the new European Citizens' Initiative and the interrelations between actors involved in this unique participatory process.
