The position of Civil Society Organizations within the Ecuadorian Political System in the face of the political crisis in Ecuador: a field study.

Abstract

This study is part of a research project analyzing the role of Ecuadorian civil society organizations (CSOs) in contexts of political crisis, with the aim of redesigning their positioning to enhance their effectiveness in prioritizing the social interests they represent. Employing a mixed-methods approach—which included citizen surveys, interviews with key stakeholders, and a documentary review—structural weaknesses within these CSOs were identified, such as internal fragmentation, a lack of transparency, and limited capacity for political advocacy. The progressive implementation of this redesign—accompanied by a continuous line of research and a multidirectional dissemination strategy—constitutes a necessary condition for strengthening Ecuadorian democracy and governance in scenarios of crisis.