Civil Rewiev

NIOK Civil Report 2025

Julianna Kiss, Krisztina Asztalos, Balázs Gerencsér, Janka Tóth — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The NIOK Civil Report 2025 analyses the current state of civil society organisations in Hungary and provides the first comprehensive overview of the sector. Focusing on traditional civil society organisations - foundations and associations registered in Hungary - it examines the political, legal, and economic developments shaping the sector’s operating environment, as well as its key structural characteristics. The analysis draws on a wide range of data sources, including official statistics from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), data from the Adjukössze.hu fundraising platform, a systematic review of relevant literature, and original surveys and interviews conducted by the NIOK Foundation. The report addresses three main
areas: macro-level conditions affecting civil society, statistical trends in organisational capacity, employment, and revenues, and funding opportunities, with particular attention to normative public funding, the 1% personal income tax scheme, and private donations. The findings indicate that civil society in Hungary operates in an increasingly constrained environment characterised by growing inequalities in access to resources. While overall revenues and employment have increased since 2010, these gains are highly concentrated, and volunteer participation has declined. At the same time, private donations and the 1% tax scheme remain vital for many organisations, highlighting both the resilience of the sector and its structural vulnerabilities.

How many years do we have left until the end of the (civil) world

Ádám Nagy, Zsuzsa Béres-Áfra , Viktor Szalóki — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Our study will focus on the Hungarian model of civil society domestication, with particular emphasis on its adaptation to authoritarian regimes. The central question is how Hungary follows Russian civil society domestication practices and what parallels can be observed between the two countries. Over the past decade, measures restricting the functioning of civil society – and, more recently, the exercise of civil rights through civil society – have become increasingly intense in Hungary. Our aim is to show what legal and political tools the Hungarian government is using to domesticate civil society, and to what extent these steps follow the Russian authoritarian model. The research is based on document analysis and model-based comparison, during which we analyze in detail the adaptation of legal and political measures. We focus on the gradual transformation of the Hungarian model based on the Russian model, with particular regard to the law on foreign agents, action against non-desirable organizations, and the criminalization of the civil sector. The results show how many years Hungary lags behind the Russian domestication processes, and the gradual elimination of the autonomy of civil society can be observed. The study explores not only the similarities but also the differences, highlighting the limiting factors arising from the European legal environment, which somewhat slow down the domestication process. The research also sheds light on how the resilience of the civil sector is changing in an increasingly narrow political space.

The role of the civil sector in the prevention and management of cyberbullying

Viktória Bene — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The digital revolution has changed our everyday lives and the dynamics of relationships. A new space has appeared—cyberspace—which is not only a communication platform but has also become a fundamental place for social interaction. Besides its positive aspects, it also contains dangers; one of the most serious problems is cyberbullying, to which neither the public education nor other state actors engaged in intervention are able to respond adequately. The administrative overload and methodological shortcomings in formal education often set back effective intervention. Those who are affected do not trust in state institutions and mostly fear asking for help from professionals, which creates another problem to solve. In this social environment, the role of the civil sphere becomes crucial. The study aims to introduce how the civil sphere can respond to these challenges and cooperate with the institutions. Furthermore, another important question is how they describe the obstacles they face. Using semi-structured interviews with civil society actors explores the significance, good practices, and challenges of the civil sphere. The analysis highlights that civil society actors play a significant role in both prevention and intervention. Interviews with affected users also highlighted that they do not trust state institutions. For this reason, they would turn to civil society for help. Their methodological freedom, knowledge, and network enable them to establish and maintain partnerships with actors in formal institutions. Nevertheless, the results show that they face a lack of financial and human resources, as well as political restrictions, which threaten their operation and long-term presence in schools and communities. The persistent and active presence of civil society actors is crucial, as they often compensate for the shortcomings of the formal system and, in many cases, serve as the only credible source of help.

Civil society and coastal governance: empirical insights for Shoreline Management Planning in Tamil Nadu, India

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Shoreline Management Plans have become an important component of coastal planning in India, but their effectiveness depends on how well they reflect the social and ecological realities of coastal communities. This study examines the contribution of civil society to shoreline governance in Tamil Nadu, a region where rapid development, ecological shifts and repeated cyclone impacts have intensified the need for coherent shoreline management. The research is based on 180 consultations conducted across fourteen coastal districts and focuses on four categories of civil society organisations: non-governmental organisations, women’s self-help groups, fisher cooperatives and religious institutions. The findings show that these groups play complementary roles in interpreting and supporting shoreline management. Non-governmental organisations are involved in ecological restoration, monitoring and community awareness activities. Women’s collectives draw attention to essential aspects of resilience such as water quality, sanitation, shelter conditions and personal safety. Fisher cooperatives highlight the practical requirements of daily marine access, including dredging and harbour facilities. Religious institutions provide trusted networks for relief, coordination and dispute resolution during extreme events. These combined efforts help translate technical shoreline plans into practices that are meaningful at the local level. Comparisons with
coastal experiences in the Philippines, Bangladesh and the Netherlands indicate that Tamil Nadu reflects a wider pattern in which civil society strengthens the acceptance and performance of coastal adaptation measures. The study argues that resilience emerges through shared learning, distributed responsibility and cooperation across institutions. Embedding civil society participation within the Shoreline Management Plan framework is therefore essential for developing approaches that are socially credible, ecologically informed and adaptable to changing coastal conditions.

Social innovation the mobility for elderly people

Petra Kézai — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The population of the European Union is constantly growing, but the composition of society has changed. The proportion of the older generation (people aged 65+) is becoming increasingly significant. This generation typically lives alone or in nursing homes, deprived of social interaction, and is characterized by isolation. This study presents a social innovation that focuses on the mobility of the older generation. The originally Danish program „Cycling without Age” is an international best practice that has now spread successfully to more countries over the globe. The initiative is an excellent example of social responsibility, which, in addition to promoting the mobility of the older generation, serves to emphasize local values and intergenerational understanding.The study presents a detailed history of the program and its spread in the Visegrad countries, followed by a review of the relevant literature based on the PRISMA method. Finally, it discusses the program’s applicability in Hungary based on an interview with the Hungarian program coordinator.

Regional dimensions of health behavior and community-based prevention in old age in Hungary, with special emphasis on the role of civil organizations

Gyöngyi Orbán, Ágnes Kovácsné Tóth — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid aging of Hungarian society poses serious challenges to the healthcare system and local communities. The health status of the population over 65 shows strong regional disparities, influenced by lifestyle factors and social environment. Our research aimed to explore the health behavior of older adults living in Western Transdanubia, particularly in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, and to examine the healthpromoting role of civil organizations. According to the results of our survey, the prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, unbalanced nutrition, and physical inactivity is high, especially among those with lower educational attainment and individuals living alone. Within the framework of a community-based intervention, we organized group exercise sessions without equipment, which improved both physical and mental well-being, while community experience and the involvement of civil organizations enhanced participation and sustainability. Our findings indicate that reducing health inequalities in old age requires the active engagement of civil organizations.