WACC | On “shrinking space”: A framing paper

The document argues that the concept of "shrinking space" is often used to depoliticize the targeted repression of radical social movements. It identifies ten trends of repression, including philanthropic protectionism and the criminalization of human rights defenders, and contends that these tools are applied selectively by states to maintain power. The author suggests that the focus should shift from a generic "civil society" lens to one of political marginalization and solidarity with those on the margins.

• The author identifies ten interrelated trends that constrain the political space for civil society organizations, including "philanthropic protectionism" (government constraints on international funding), domestic laws imposing onerous registration and reporting obligations, and the restriction of freedom of assembly and expression through censorship and "mass surveillance".
• The experience of "shrinking space" is uneven; while grassroots, community-based, and environmental justice movements face severe crackdowns, highly professionalized NGOs often maintain their platforms and become "preferred partners for donors" due to their bureaucratic capacity.
• The "shrinking space" discourse is criticized for depoliticizing state repression and masking the intersectional dynamics of gender, race, and sexual orientation by overemphasizing a narrow set of freedoms from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
• Repressive tools are applied selectively by states to suit political ends; for example, restrictions on foreign funding are used by populist politicians to bankrupt political opponents while maintaining funds for "uncontentious actors".
• The document argues that "shrinking space" should be viewed as a tool of political marginalization within neoliberalism, where the state and corporations redefine legitimate political activity to exclude critical and radical actors.
• The author highlights the criminalization of specific movements as evidence of targeted repression, including the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, Black Lives Matter, and environmental activists opposing extractivism.

APA

Rowley, S. (2022). WACC | On “shrinking space”: A framing paper. World Association for Christian Communication. https://waccglobal.org/on-shrinking-space-a-framing-paper/

Chicago

Rowley, Saskia. WACC | On “shrinking space”: A framing paper. World Association for Christian Communication, 2022. https://waccglobal.org/on-shrinking-space-a-framing-paper/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rowley |first1=Saskia |title=WACC | On “shrinking space”: A framing paper |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=19 August 2022 |url=https://waccglobal.org/on-shrinking-space-a-framing-paper/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rowley2022wacc, author = {Rowley, Saskia}, title = {{WACC | On “shrinking space”: A framing paper}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://waccglobal.org/on-shrinking-space-a-framing-paper/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }