Civil Society at a Critical Juncture: Finland’s 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship and the Future of Civic Engagement

Over the past decade, democracy has experienced a steady decline. As part of this trend, civic spaces across the globe have continued to shrink. The OSCE has a significant legacy of defending civic space, as civil society participation in security politics is fundamental to its approach to peace and security. Yet Russia’s war in Ukraine, together with a broader erosion of commitment to OSCE values, has led many to question the continued validity of the OSCE acquis.

This paper examines how engagement with non-governmental actors has evolved throughout the CSCE/OSCE process. Focusing on Finland’s activities during its 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship, we categorize contemporary forms of civil society participation in the OSCE. By analytically connecting past and present, we contribute to the broader debate on the changing relationship between civil society and the OSCE. We argue that the OSCE remains well placed to serve as a forum for comprehensive security dialogue between governments and civil society. However, both individual and institutional innovation
is needed if respect for fundamental freedoms is to endure in a shifting international order.

The article was published on OSCE Insights in 2026. Read the full publication here.