Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nicaragua: challenging or maintaining the status quo? This book explores the challenges, functions and potential of CSOs in the "hybrid" regime of Nicaragua, which is characterised by the coexistence of formal democratic structures and autocratic practices. Based on a comprehensive empirical study of the Nicaraguan civil society sector, this study identifies different types of CSOs in terms of their influence, representation and autonomy. Thereby, it critically examines the general hopes placed in both local and international CSOs in terms of their potential to foster democratisation and societal change.