Abstract
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role of space (from the ontological point of view) in activities of civic initiatives or non-governmental organisations, their conflicts of interests with other initiatives, public, self-government, public administration, the commercial sphere and (epistemologically) in study of it. Selected theoretical-methodological social sciences' approaches regarding spatiality will be assessed from the point of view of (political) geography.
Civil society and its initiatives, though not always defending a generally recognized "public interest", are supposed to be a crutch of good governance and advanced democratic society which is facing many particular interests including globalising commercial pressure or widespread corruption. Just the (public) space and its use is becoming the main subject of the conflict.
However, it is possible to watch spatial contexts and differences from a broader point of view of geographical vertical hierarchy and horizontal differentiation as well. The author's research in Liberec Region in Czechia compared with his findings from Finnish North Karelia, namely its metropolis of Joensuu, will serve as a practical example.