Civil Society

Abstract

Despite the obvious existence of civil society organizations (CSOs) and forms of civic engagement, the data available for this sector remain inadequate. This advisory report provides a comprehensive view of the current data situation, reveals existing gaps, and offers suggestions on how these gaps might be closed. The empirical material currently provided by existing data sources – the Federal Statistical Office, statistics from the CSOs themselves, as well as special data and surveys – only register this area separately and to a limited extent, and even then not in a consistent manner. With respect to both CSOs and forms of individual engagement, the data situation is inadequate. Questions pertaining to whether CSOs will remain oriented toward civil society within a context of increased economic pressure cannot be answered. Similarly, it is nearly impossible to analyze whether civic engagement stands at odds to the increased tendency towards monetarization. Since civil society will undoubtedly continue to gain in political and social importance, the long-term task will be to set up a meaningful and a predominantly selfcontained system of data collection and provision. This goal can be reached by using the existing surveys and databases described in this paper.