The Impact of Devolution on Civil Society in post-Devolution Wales

Abstract

This thesis' main aim is to investigate the impact of devolution on civil society during the first term of devolution to Wales with a particular focus on civil society's contribution to enhancing democracy and the interrelationship between civil society and national identity. It achieves this through fulfilling three aims. First, it develops an empirical understanding of civil society post-devolution through case study based research. Second, it informs the empirical examination with a theoretical framework. Third, it strengthens the study's findings through establishing a comparative perspective on civil society organisations prior and post-devolution. In order to pursue these aims, the thesis is divided into two parts. Part I of the thesis provides a foundation for the detailed empirical case studies in Part II. It develops a theoretical and contextual basis to the study by discussing the relevant theoretical tools. It also analyses the post-devolution context of civil society's participation with the National Assembly. On the basis established in Part I, in order to assess the impact of devolution on civil society, Part II discusses four detailed empirical case studies that encompass a wide cross-section of organisations. Furthermore, the findings from the case studies are compared and contrasted to develop broader conclusions regarding the impact of devolution on civil society in post-devolution Wales. The thesis' main contribution is the original empirical study of the impact of devolution on civil society, with specific focus on civil society's inter-relationship with democratic development and national identity. It thus attempts to shed light on the dynamic between devolution and civil society as the latter is one of the most under-researched aspects of contemporary Welsh society. This complements the literature on post-devolution Wales, on constitutional change in the UK and on the impact of regional government on political culture more broadly.