REGIONAL ECONOMIC DISPARITIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY: EVIDENCE FROM CROATIA

This paper discusses the relationships between the different aspects of social capital and regional economic disparities in Croatia. The focus is given not only to the analysis of the quantitative aspects of civil society, but also to its different qualitative characteristics. On regional level, there are significant changes and shifts in the development of civil society and social capital in Croatia. Although the number of civil society organizations has been increasing, the enhancement of the quality of social capital is not proportional to its numerical growth. All evidences originated from different surveys and researches conducted in the last decade have stressed the very low level of trust in Croatian executive and legislative power as well in judicial authority. In addition, they documented the trend of reducing the density of social networks and disrespecting the social norms. The regional dispersion of the registered legal non-profit entities shows agglomeration pattern in the biggest Croatian cities and their belonging counties. This spatial clustering of civil entities as well of social excluded group corresponds to the level of regional economic development. The paper discusses also the case of the National Foundation for Civil Society Development as an example of good practice. The Foundation shows how social capital, decentralized organizational structures and financial initiatives as well as local civil community may stimulate social partnerships, improve administrative capacity and so help meet its goals.