Role of Civil Society Organizations in Local Governance: Theoretical Approaches and Empirical Challenges in Lithuania

Abstract

The paper is focused on the discussion about the role of civil society in local
governance and attempts to provide the answers to the questions: who is responsible
for and should initiate the partnership between civil society organizations and local
government? What are possible partnership models? How are public administrators
affected by or do they affect civil society? What are the determinants of active civic
participation in local governance? The paper is based on the two-fold approach:
1) general approach to the civil society and government partnership in local democracy;
2) particular approach examining how discussed partnership models work in Lithuania.