Does Government Funding Suppress Nonprofits' Political Activity?

Autonomy from the state has been considered a core feature of American civil society, and understanding the consequences of perceived threats to that autonomy has been a central theme in social and political theory. We engage this theme by examining a specific question: What is the effect of governm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American sociological review 2004-04, Vol.69 (2), p.292-316
Main Authors: Chaves, Mark, Stephens, Laura, Galaskiewicz, Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advocacy
Autonomy
Case studies
Civil society
Community life
Effects
Federal funding
Funding
Government
Government officials
Government relations
Government spending
Lobbying
Longitudinal Studies
Non-profit organizations
Nonprofit organizations
Political activity
Political ideologies
Political participation
Political philosophy
Political science theories
Politics
Public finance
Religion
Religious congregations
Religious organizations
Social problems and social policy. Social work
Social services
Sociology
Sovereignty
Theme
Threats
U.S.A
Verbal aggression
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Summary:Autonomy from the state has been considered a core feature of American civil society, and understanding the consequences of perceived threats to that autonomy has been a central theme in social and political theory. We engage this theme by examining a specific question: What is the effect of government funding on nonprofit organizations' political activity? Extant theory and research identify some mechanisms by which government funding might reduce nonprofit political activity and other mechanisms by which government funding might enhance such activity. We investigate this relationship with two data sets: a national sample of religious congregations and a longitudinal sample of nonprofit organizations in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Results across these data sets are consistent and compelling: The relationship between government funding and nonprofit political activity is either positive or null; government funding does not suppress nonprofit political activity.
ISSN:0003-1224
1939-8271
DOI:10.1177/000312240406900207