Whose voice matters? The role and democratic legitimacy of the representation of civil society in sport in contemporary Nordic governance

Abstract

This chapter examines civil society organizations in contemporary Nordic governance through an instrumental case study of Finnish sport. By analysing news archives and public comment threads related to the Finnish Olympic Committee's (OK) ethical crisis, this chapter examines which facets an ethical crisis brings forth in the role and democratic legitimacy of the central organization of sport to act as the representative of civil society. The chapter shows that the role of the OK may be closer to a formal quasi-authority with a political twist instead of a collective, unpolitical, bottom-up representative of civil society actors in sport. This chapter contributes to the literature on Nordic governance by extending the discussion on civil society's role and possibilities in continuing to shape societies by collectively bringing forth the people's opinions in decision-making, and by questioning whether the OK is a legitimate negotiator for public governance as a representative of the civil society of sport.