‘We are not sitting at the table, but we are part of the ecosystem’: engagement groups and the G7
Journal: Journal of International Relations and Development
Year: 2026

Abstract The Group of Seven (G7) has often been criticised for being an exclusive and elite club because of its back-room politics and non-transparency. As a response, the G7 presidencies began interacting with different civil society groups, so-called engagement groups. We conceptualise the engagement groups as an organizational field, which we aim to study by addressing three interrelated questions: (i) why do engagement groups get involved with the G7 (expectations); to what extent is the G7