A Transnational Civil Society Elite? The Case of German-Polish and German-Czech Relations

Combining theories of elites and networks offer a valuable lens through which to explain the relationship between the state and civil society in international relations. Networks are a central feature of how elites gain and maintain formative power. Networks can offer both strategic positioning and access to resources (Lee, Platek and Scaramuzzino, 2023). These resources resulting from network connectivity are often referred to as ‘social capital’ (Hafner-Burton et al 2009). A relational understanding of elites views them not as one cohesive unit, but as a web of well-networks organisations and individuals. To test the theoretical approach outlined above, this paper uses the empirical case study of Germany’s relations with Poland and Czechia. Several studies have used Germany as a case study for elite networks more broadly in a domestic context (for example, see Windolf, 1998; Best and Higley, 2017; Scheuch, 2003). However, while it is well-established that there is a range of elite actors involved in Germany’s foreign relations (Anheier et al, 2022; Ciesielska-Klikowska 2023), this has yet to be analysed from the perspective of networks, either internally or with actors in partner countries. This thesis triangulates the methods of discourse analysis, Social Network Analysis and qualitative interviewing to investigate what characterises civil society elites in international relations, the significance of networks between civil society elites, and the extent to which networks act as bridges or mediating factors between civil society elites, political elites and civil society actors in international relations. The first stage of the analysis involves a discourse analysis of speeches in which German government representatives speak about the relationship to Poland and Czechia. The analysis identifies common narratives and claims made about the role of civil society in Polish-German and Czech-German relations, as well as revealing the organisations which, according to German politicians, work to improve bilateral relations at the civil society level. The second stage of analysis builds on these findings, using the organisations identified in the speeches and other documents (e.g. the annual federal budget) to produce a list of organisations which are part of the elite civil society network in Polish-German and Czech-German relations. These organisations are then used as the ‘nodes’ for a social network analysis carried out using an in-person survey. The survey asks representatives from each organisation to identify key partners in their network, and assess their ties with all the organisations in the network based on how often they interact and how important each organisation is in their network. Finally, the qualitative analysis of the network survey is developed through qualitative interviews with representatives from the identified organisations, and experts in the field more broadly. In this way, this paper aims to produce a clearer picture of the networks and channels of communication between actors across the dynamic spectrum of politics and civil society in international relations. It also tests the possibility that ‘elite civil society’ actors and their networks act as bridges or mediators between ‘official’ foreign policy and ‘unofficial’ bilateral relations at the civil society level.