Vol.6(1), pp.

1-9, January, 2015

DOI: 10.5897/IJPDS2014.0202
Article Number: 65C3A4949285
ISSN 1993–8225 ©2015
International Journal of Peace and Development
Copyright © 2015 Studies
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
http://www.academicjournals.org/IJPDS

Review

Emerging role of NGOs in the world’s socio-political

affairs
Firdoos Dar
Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, India.
Recieved 9 April, 2014; Accepted 2 December, 2014

The past two decades had witnessed tremendous increase in the role of NGOs in various walks of life
and it is now an established fact that their role cannot be sidelined any state while formulating and
implemented the her policies. The number of NGOs has grown tremendously and so their functions,
conservatively estimated at between 6,000 and 8,000.... They are bringing the voice of voiceless and
marginalized to the centers of power, enforcing accountability, building responsive and transparent
systems. They are performing an important task in the arena of social, cultural, economic and political
activity alongside the state and market. They are being perceived as a constructive power building
vibrant democracy and people oriented development. Its absence is being considered as a criterion for
authoritarian move. This paper is an attempt to shed light on the emerging role of NGOs in world
politics, making an assessment with regard to their gains in the socio-political arena.

Key World: NGOs, Role, Politics, Human Rights, Public Policy, State, UN, Lobbying.

INTRODUCTION

NGOs had gained considerable attention during the past conferences and national level affairs. By 2000, about
few decades on account of some strategic changes at 2,5001 NGOs had achieved consultative status with the
global level. NGOs, for their part, sprang up like UN and many thousands had official arrangements with
mushrooms, offering to be both the channel through UN organs and other inter-governmental bodies (Paul,
which to strengthen civil society, and as civil society 2004).2 Some avidly target intergovernmental politics as
organisations in their own right (Pearce, 2000). The they lobby and help formulate, implement, and monitor
impact of NGOs on the democratization process has the policies of states and intergovernmental organizations,
been remarkable. The impact of NGOs on the while others supplement or eschew traditional political
democratization process has been remarkable. They channels (Clark et al., 1998). This case led to the first
have made a crucial difference in the way international legal definition of these organizations; they were defined
justice is delivered; its deliverance has improved both at as:
global and local level. What role they are playing and to
what extent they are successful in their mission are to be "Any international organization which is not established
addressed in this paper. However, before doing the same by inter-governmental agreement shall be considered as
let us see its brief emergence. The United Nations a non-governmental organization for the purpose of these
Charter included a clause which provided for official
'consultative' relations between certain NGOs and the 1
The number has been steadily increasing ever since to 3,900 organizations today,
United Nations. Only 418 NGOs held this status in 1993 see this website, http://csonet.org/index.php?menu=30, accessed on 12/8/2013
2
as the new UN conference cycle was getting under way. The Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 set the pace for intense NGO participation
in world conferences, with 17,000 NGO representatives participating in the
Today, however, tens of thousands of NGOs have NGO parallel forum and 1,400 directly involved in the intergovernmental
achieved consultative status participating both at UN negotiations.
2 Int. J. Peace and Dev. Stud.

arrangements". (UN ECOSOC Resolution 288 (X), 27 institutionally separate from the government; though it
February, 1950). may receive some support from government; it is non-
profit distributing, and if a financial surplus is generated it
This definition has just been revised for the first time and does not accrue to owners or directors; it is self-
now reads: governing and therefore able to control and manage its
own affairs; and finally it is volunteer staff as such, there
“... (As above)..., including organizations which accept is voluntary, and even if it does not use volunteer
members designated by governmental authorities, participation in the conduct or management of the
provided that such membership does not interfere with organization, such as in the form of voluntary board of
the free expression of use of the organization" (UK directors.
ECOSOC Resolution 1296 (XLIV), 25 June 1968). An NGO is generally defined as an essentially non-
profit, voluntary citizen groups which is organized at the
The rapid increase of NGOs at global level promoting local, national, or international level, and is locally,
diverse issues-ranging from human rights to governmental nationally, internationally active. Various authors have
accountability and from rule of law to environmental suggested other names because of the confusion arising
protection is of remarkable worth. NGOs are assuming from this negative title. The title does not indicate
considerable political weight in international politics. The precisely what is governmental or what is international.
kinds of pressure NGOs are exerting possibly place No other title has come to be generally accepted
governments under an obligation to fulfill her promises although a variety of terms are in use. In the United
and indeed persuade them to change policies. This States the term transnational non-governmental organi-
growth of NGO diplomats now plays a significant role in zation is increasingly used. The issue of independence is
intergovernmental negotiations. This is all because of the an important one in the credibility of an NGO. It is hard
increasing trend towards democratization. More and for NGOs not to come under any governmental influence.
more countries are moving close to the democratic Individual governments do at times try to influence the
politics following rule of law, fair electoral politics, human NGO community in a particular field, by establishing
rights and civil society etc. The increase in participation NGOs that promote their policies. This has been
of NGOs in global institutions reflects the changing state recognized by quite common use of the acronym
of our democracy. However, this assumption that civil GONGO, to label a government-organized NGO. Also, in
society per se promotes democratic governance came more authoritarian societies, NGOs may find it very
under heavy criticism by the mid-1990s. Before we move difficult to act independently and they may not receive
to the main theme of the paper, let’s have a brief acknowledgment from other political actors even when
framework so it becomes easy job for us to examine their they are acting independently (Mostashari, 2005).
role. Other designations like CBOs (community-based
organizations), GROs (grass-roots organizations), or POs
(people’s organizations distinguish membership-based)
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK are also being increasingly used. Other acronyms call
attention to the varying autonomy of NGOs, distinguishing
One useful way of approaching the problem or fully autonomous NGOs from government-organized or –
conceptualizing the definition of NGOs is to see them as supported groups or GONGOs quasi-autonomous NGOs
part of what has been called the ‘third sector’. The idea is or QUANGOs and donor-organized NGOs or DONGOs.
based on the assumption that the world of institutions can Still other distinctions are made among NNGOs (NGOs
be divided into three ways: the first part belongs to in, Northern or industrialized countries), SNGOs (NGOs
government, the second belongs to private or profit- based in Southern or developing countries), and INGOs
business and the third group of organization does not (international NGOs).
easily fit into either category: a ‘third sector.’ Some Yet, there are some high levels of government funding
observers have indentified it with ‘not-for-profit’; others and they possess some of the characteristics of
associated it with ‘voluntary’ or ‘non-governmental bureaucracies, while others can resemble highly
organization. To be included in the third sector any professionalized private organizations with corporate
organization should be based on five key characteristics: identities. This has generated debates about what is and
that is, the organization is to be institutionalized in that it what is not an NGO, and most suitable approaches for
should have regular meeting, office bearers and some analyzing NGO roles in development. In its broadest
organizational performance; it is private in that it is sense, the term “non-government organization” refers to

E-mail: darfirdos@gmail.com.

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 Dar 3

organizations (I) not based in government, and (ii) not between 10 and 15 per cent of development assistance
created to earn profit. While this broad definition of an funds generated by the OECD member countries were
NGO is correct semantically, it presents a problem in that channeled through Northern NGOs. By 1991, 25 per cent
it embraces a large number and wide range of of the official development assistance of some bilateral
organizations that structurally and functionally are donors flowed through INGOs, and almost all bilateral
unrelated. This broad definition of NGO refers more to and multilateral donor agencies had established per-
what an organization is not, rather than to what it is, and manent units to act as liaisons with development INGOs
can be applied to many organizations. (Boli and Thomas, 1999). By 1995, over 2,500 INGOs in
Terms parallel with NGOs, and sometimes used OECD countries claimed to be advocating increased
instead, include—among many others—voluntary organi- support for international development or operating
zation, private voluntary organization, or private voluntary development programs in low-income countries, thus
development organization; people’s organization; com- outnumbering all other types of development organi-
munity organization or community based organization; zations (Boli and Thomas, 1999). The NGO Working
community group or community association; grassroots Group on UN-NGO Relations founded in mid-2009
organization; intermediary organization; and public advocates for a positive and open partnership between
interest group (Vedder, 2007). In some languages, the United Nations and NGOs. The group addresses
nongovernment translates into terms such as “anti- issues such as the accreditation process, NGO partici-
governmental” or “not with the government,” prompting pation in UN meetings and conferences, and physical
the voluntary sector to employ other terms to describe access to the Headquarters complex. It maintains contact
itself (Fisher, 2003). These groups vary significantly with a similar group in Geneva and other concerned
according to philosophy, purpose, expertise, program NGOs worldwide.
approach, and scope of activities. Important distinctions Today NGOs deliver more official development
can be drawn with regard to;3 assistance than the entire U.N. system (excluding the
World Bank and the International Monetary Fund)
1. The functional roles of different types of NGOs; (Mathews, 1997). Social scientists have begun to take
2. The differing roles of NGOs on the continuum of NGOs new interest in the increasing role of NGOs in
from the local level, to the national level, and to the environmental protection, gender justice, human rights
regional and international levels; and etc. Mary Kaldor argues that global civil society in the
3. The operational orientations and approaches of 1990s was dominated by NGOs changing the norms
different kinds of NGOs concerning human rights and humanitarian intervention.
NGOs wielding tremendous power are also important
A great number of criteria can potentially be applied in from post-conflict reconstruction perspectives (Kaldor,
order to classify such NGOs for purposes of analysis, 2003). Some NGOs can, however, wield enough clout to
including the primary aims of the organisations, their change governments and other NGOs advocates for
types or scope of activities, the type of membership, their behavioral change of the nation states (Finger and
organizational structure or their funding structure. The Princen, 2013).
three basic characteristics of NGOs seem to be (1) Being Today, the fact of the matter is that one cannot ignore
non-profit; (2) consisting at least partially or completely the role of NGOs in the various walks of life be it politics
on voluntary citizens group; (3) and depending at least or impolitic. NGOs are in the center of developmental
partially of voluntary citizens (Vedder, 2007). activities for instance in poverty alleviation, conflict
resolution, building peace in conflict ridden situations and
conservation of environment progammes etc. In the
ROLE OF NGOs IN WORLD’S AFFAIRS OSCE context, the role of NGOs in pressing for
adherence to democratic standards and practices
The past decade or so has witnessed a spectacular including monitoring elections remains vital. Environ-
growth in the number and scope of third sector mental NGOs in the former Soviet Union and Eastern
organizations around the world and arguably could be Europe played a vital role in the political, social and
described as the golden age of INGO.4 In the late 1980s, economic changes of the 1980s (Barbara Jancar
Webster, 1993). Today, they continue to have an
enormous impact in countries across the globe, pushing
3
Cooperation between Asian Development Bank and Non Government for governmental transparency and accountability which
Organizations, ADB 2004, p. 5, p. 5. in turn can fuel political reform. Chipko Movement is one
http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/adb-ngo-policy.pdf, accessed on
7/01/2014, of the significant environmental NGOs in India demands
4
According to the Yearbook of International Organizations, the number of that the Himalayan forests should be declared protected
international NGOs was reported to have increased from 6,000 in 1990 to more
than 50,000 in 2006. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have also become
significant players in global development assistance, with the Organization for http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/CSO/0,,contentMDK:
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimating that, as of 2006, 20101499~menuPK:244752~pagePK:220503~piPK:220476~theSitePK:22871
CSOs provided approximately US$15 billion in international assistance. 7,00.html, Defining Civil Society, p, 2
4 Int. J. Peace and Dev. Stud.

forests (Dharmarajan, 2007). For the international major shift in US foreign policy toward the promotion of
community, however, the Chipko Movement is perhaps human rights and democracy in other countries via
best known for its critique of Westernized developmental NGOs. Even President Bush declared that it is the policy
practices. It is leaving its impact on the decisions of policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of
makers via environmental protection. Recognizing the democratic movements and institutions in every nation
tactics of Chipko’s Movement many environmentalists and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in
adapted Chipko-like protests in Switzerland, Japan, our world. To do the same the service of NGOs is crucial
Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Most and they become the main strategic weapons to carry the
of the regional economic and security organisations have policy forward. The neo-liberal economic policy initiated
expanded their network to include the participation of under the garb of ‘new policy agenda ‘committed to good
NGOs in their deliberation and discussions. The OAS governance emphasized development NGOs an effective
(Organisation of American States) has formal structures and efficient alternative to the state led developmental
for NGO participation and it seeks greater engagement perspective having the potential to strengthen democratic
by civil society organizations. Likewise ASEAN has processes. In this regard, American international NGOs
formal guidelines for NGO participation in its activities were remained at the forefront to bring transitional
(Lowenkron, 2006). The inclusion of NGOs in the societies close to democratic mood (Chaulia, 2006). The
deliberations of various organizations means the shifting interdependencies among political actors came
increasing recognition of their work both at regional and through globalization of capitalism and power, and by the
global level. It is also believed that NGOs have played a decline of the state, growing numbers of groups loosely
significant role in throwing away the authoritarian regimes identified as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. Even it is believed that in the have under-taken an enormously wide range of activities.
demise of USSR civil society had made a significant These include implementing grass-roots or sustainable
contribution. There is another version of truth that these development programmes, promoting human rights,
NGOs were backed by US Government with a view to providing social justice, protesting against environmental
install friendly government there. Fuhrmann identifies two degradation and pursuing many other objectives formerly
distinct kinds of social capital which have removed these ignored or left to governmental agencies. Recent past
regimes from power through orange and tulip revolutions: witnessed capacity building reflecting a changing nature
is that of imported and indigenous, which had mobilized in development thinking away from the simple transfer of
the people during the Tulip revolution. Imported refers skills and resources towards building autonomy and self-
here to the western based NGOs who have played a reliance (Lewis, 2000). Over a 150 NGOs worldwide
significant role in mobilizing the anti-Akeav wave criticized the failure of the WTO to adhere to democratic
(Mitchell, 2012). Civil Society has played an important principles. NGOs challenge such notions as a violation of
role in dismantling the USSR especially under the the very democratic principles enshrined in the consti-
leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev. tutions of the powerful member states (Global Policy
These NGOs are also working on various aspects of Forum, 2002).
institutional development, such as helping to establish An NGO works to empower poverty-stricken people,
competitive political parties, fair elections, independent tries to change public attitudes and consistently
media, and civic advocacy groups and mediating or campaigns for policy making process and public related
reducing ethnic conflicts. Democratic assistance issues. NGOs have created global governance and have
channeled through INGOs played a significant role in promoted the constitutive norms to create a system of
fostering a positive change in the transitional recipient global governance. A variety of women’s groups actively
countries. (Mendelson and Glenn, 2002). During the influence the United Nations on social welfare questions.
ethnic clashes in Kyrgyzstan in 2010, NGOs have The greatest political achievement by NGOs has been
reduced tensions between the two adversary commu- the creation of the International Criminal Court (Willets,
nities, build peace between Uzbek and Kyrgyz in the Osh 2010). NGOs have dominated the international diplomacy
region of the country.5 of human rights. These are increasingly participating in
Now Country’s Foreign policy hardly ignores the the management of civil conflicts, enhancing their role in
engagement of nonstate actors. While the promotion of the affirmation of humanitarian intervention (Daniela,
democracy has been a central plank of U.S. foreign 2010). In the multilateral context alone, the number of
policy since the end of the cold war, it has frequently UN-accredited NGOs had risen from 40 in 1945 to 3,536
been nongovernmental organizations (occasionally by the end of 2011.
funded by USAID) that have implemented this policy in They are performing an important work in the arena of
the formerly communist countries (Mendelson and Glenn, social, cultural, economic and political activity alongside
2002). Samuel Huntington, while analyzing the main the state and the market and have come to play
causes for the "third wave" of democratization listed a increased roles in public policy. More recent treatments
have begun to place NGOs in a broader social context
5
Authors interview with Armaan Ali of Kyrgyzstan who was himself involved and credit them with a wide range of political functions,
in such activities as volunteer of INTRAC, on 5/01/2014 what Levy calls, a critical ‘third sector’ that fosters the
 Dar 5

development of the marginalized groups (Lekorwe and among the people. Scholars of international relations
Mpabanga, 2007). These NGOs are acting as have begun to examine the impact of NGO coalitions and
transnational advocacy groups changing the attitude of networks on international politics and their role in the
people for their betterment (Warkentin, 2001). The formation of an international civil society.
description of world politics has also increasingly being Both the quantity and quality of NGO participation has
challenged as many other non- state actors especially changed as we know that less than 300 NGOs have
NGOs have become more and more important, finding attended the Stockholm Conference on the Environment.
their progressive role in international relations. States are Subsequently at Rio conference held in 1992; more than
now sharing much of its political, social and security role 1,400 NGOs registered themselves as participants. At
with such non-state actors (Agg, 2006).6 Their role in another occasion, only 53 NGOs with consultative status
pluralism, collective social action, interdependence, sent their representatives to the 1968 Tehran
global governance, environmental governance (Finger, International Conference on Human Rights, and few
1994)7 and transnationalism has become an established others attended the invitation of the conference's
fact. NGOs have acquired the power to negotiate with Preparatory Committee. For the 1993 Human Rights
and exert the pressure on the state and market holder in Conference in Vienna, a UN source lists 248 NGOs with
favor of the excluded (Lewis, 2000). Indeed, NGOs consultative status and 593 as participants. Another
strengthen the institutions of civil society that mediate source prepared by NGO community themselves reports
between the individual and the state, making governments that around 1,400 to 1,500 NGOs attended the said
accountable and responsive at both local and national conference. Similarly, the Mexico City Conference
level (Fisher, 2003). celebrated International Women's Year held in 1975; it
The potential of the global associational explosion has was attended by more than 114 NGOs as participants. A
captivated the imagination of a wide variety of develop- decade later at the end of 1985, a UN Decade on Women
ment planners, policy makers, activists, and analysts. in Nairobi was conducted; 13,500 people registered for
Economists and development planners exalt the role of and many more attended. Ten years later over 300,000
local associations in alleviating rural poverty and helping people attended the Beijing NGO forum, doubling
communities adapt to modernization, World Bank, UNDP; previous attendance records. But equally impressive,
political scientists are reevaluating the role of voluntary 3,000 accredited NGOs gained access to the Fourth
associations in building vibrant civil societies and their World Conference on Women (Clark et al., 1998). In the
impact on the relationship between society and the state. Global Governance, World Bank has recognized their
There has been a recent shift of international donor role as agents for democratic governance along with
community channeling INGOs to make partnerships with developmental programmes (Vedder, 2007). As the world
these mahallas in central Asia. To regenerate the changed after the cold war, under the influence of
traditional communal societies, the Khujand Civil globalization and the politics of the single superpower,
Society Support Center has formulated a three month NGOs began to assume a new role in the peace and
program on “Development of Volunteers movement in security realm. They have moved from less sensitive to
Soghd Region”. Twenty-five volunteers were trained and more politically sensitive areas, thereby involved in the
received skills at Counterpart’s International support protection of political rights and civil liberties.
center. Its purpose was to develop civic sense promotion Former Secretary General Boutros Ghali affirmed that
NGOs "are indispensable parts of the legitimacy without
6 which no international activity can be meaningful." Again
BRAC in Bangladesh is an example of NGO expanding into the entire
infrastructure of a country. BRAC is a huge organization-the largest in the an indication of their current status is given by the former
country with more than 28,000 staff employed in projects. Its projects include a UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, who declared that
university, a bank, an Internet service provider and several financing NGOs are ‘the conscience of humanity’. The Security
organizations. Its 115,840 village organizations have a membership of just Council's total number of meetings and consultations with
under four million. BRAC is a key example of how large some NGOs have
grown, with the support of the international development community. In some NGOs grew nearly fourfold while its total resolutions and
villages in Bangladesh, “you can send your child to an NGO school, have a presidential statements increased more than six fold.
vasectomy arranged by an NGOs health worker, sell your milk to an NGO There role in Security Council’s election monitoring,
dairy and talk on an NGO phone. And there’s usually a choice of several NGO policing, and post-conflict peace-building and peace
banks. There’s even NGO entertainment”
7
The emerging phenomenon of environmental non-governmental organizations keeping is admirable (Paul, 2004). Such activities may
in world politics in terms of social movements’ activism has been transformed concentrate on the micro-level building of social capital
for a single concentration in national politics in the 1970s to an increasingly through inclusive forums or training of the local conflict
broad focus at global and local levels in the 1980s that revitalized the resolution activists. They have begun to influence
impotence they initially attributed to national politics. In the negotiation of the
Great Lakes Water quality, the NGO representatives who sat at the table had national governments to operate in ways that go beyond
considerable influence because all concerned were experimenting with an realistic perspectives of foreign policy consideration
attempt to institutionalize transboundary , ecosystem management practices, in (Lewis, 2000). NGOs have begun to move from a
an attempt to save the planet and animal species threatened by trade, the “development as delivery” to a “development as leverage
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and WWF drafted the treaty
that became CITES and over the succeeding years have been a major for (Lewis, 2000). They are now affecting national politics in
implementing that treaty. number of ways; for instance, their role in agenda setting,
6 Int. J. Peace and Dev. Stud.

negotiating outcomes and conferring legitimacy is now an and thereby enhance the scientific and policy-related
acceptable fact (Boutros-Ghali, 1995). As such, these knowledge base of policymaking. They are engaged in
actors are not only more visible in the political and legal advocacy and lobbying; serve as members of national
matters of the developed world, but they also “have delegations; participate in review and enforcement
become a significant part of political landscape in a procedures; ensure transparency of international
growing number of countries in the Third World and processes and supports international secretariat in many
former Soviet bloc.” In particular, the end of Cold War ways. In addition, they fulfil broader functions in
created opportunities for NGO activity on global level. international environmental governance, for example by
The concept of civil society got a new lease of life during raising public awareness, linking the international with
1980 on account of revival of democracies in the Eastern national and local levels, influencing industry and
Europe. The rediscovering of social capital by Communi- business, etc. The legitimate role of NGOs in international
tarians based on local associations to radical pluralists environmental policy-making is widely acknowledged.
championing associative democracy substantiates the Consequently, Agenda 21 devotes Chapter 27 to
renewal of free and democratic atmosphere that came on NGOs and the strengthening of their role as “partners for
the fore in this period. sustainable development”. In particular, it aims at
Westphalian type of state has been changed both in its enhancing or establishing formal participatory procedures
institutional and functional perspective. Power in “for the involvement of NGOs at all levels from policy-
international relations has become less hierarchical and making and decision-making to implementation”. Overall,
more diffuse than in the past, states share some of their Agenda 21 establishes a general presumption for a
key functions with other actors. In order to be more further strengthening of the role of NGOs in international
effective in international politics NGOs are forming institutions, treaty systems and organisations.
coalitions creating networks of advocacy groups etc. NGOs have become the favored child of official
They have learned to collaborate in information exchange, development agencies, hailed as the new panacea to
project implementation and joint membership in advocacy cure the ills that have befallen the development process
coalitions.8 For instance, the anti-globalization move- and imagined as a magic bullet which will mysteriously
ments, the world wide protest against Iraq in February but effectively find its target. They are providing the
2003, environmental protection campaigns highlighting means to mitigate some of the weaknesses in the
the alliances NGOs were formed in order to be more development process. NGOs or community associations
inclusive and broad in approach (Anheier and Katz, are valuable in so far as they are a potential source of
2006). At the same time, NGOs have also become alternative development discourses and practices. Critics
proactive in a wide range of specialized roles such as from each camp may promote NGOs for their ability to
emergency response, democracy building, conflict facilitate participation and empowerment, but the
resolution and human rights. Besides this, cultural meanings attached to these terms differ. Development
preservation, environment activism, policy analysis and agencies and international NGOs, in particular, support
research were also the subjects of their interest. The local NGOs for their effectiveness in pursuing the goals of
expanding role of NGOs in development is evident in the what some have called a new policy agenda, a
amount of development resources they collectively heterogeneous set of policies based on a faith in two
manage. It was estimated that NGOs were responsible basic values, neoliberal economics and liberal democratic
for about $ US 23 million of total money aid tended to be theory. As these proponents envision them, NGOs have
provided to governments. The United Nations estimates the capacity to efficiently transfer training and skills that
that NGOs are responsible for the transfer of an assist individuals and communities to compete in
estimated US $5 billion in development aid from the markets, to provide welfare services to those who are
North to developing countries. This represents about 12.5 marginalized by the market, and to contribute
percent of the total bilateral transfer of funds from rich to democratization and the growth of a robust civil society,
poor countries and this percentage is growing annually. all of which are considered as critical to the success of
Many scholars argue that the primary contribution of the neoliberal economic policies.
NGOs is not monetary but organizational and cultural. The success of the NGOs sector can be evaluated from
INGOs facilitate the flow of information, standardize trade the number factors. Firstly, they are free from the
and professional practices, rationalize development bureaucratic burdens of governments. Secondly, they are
efforts, offer technological expertise, and foster global relatively more flexible and open to innovation, more
culture. For example, they contribute their own expertise effective and faster at implementing development efforts,
and able to identify and respond to grass-roots needs. As
the World Bank (1991) has noted, NGOs have become
8
The Global Climate Action Network, a worldwide network of over 340 an important force in the development process, mitigating
NGOs working to promote government and individual action to limit human- the costs of developing countries and helping in
induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels. NGOs have central institutional weakness. From this perspective, NGOs are
role and nevertheless, INGOs are a prominent part of the infrastructure of
global civil society and are most visible or tangible actors. Helmut K Anheier, a means through which impediments to development can
(edt.) Global civil society, SAGE, 2005/2006, p. 243 be overcome. International NGOs are useful in so far as
 Dar 7

they serve as intermediaries that can facilitate the work of the advocacy of policies or actions that address specific
local NGOs (Fisher, 1997). Thirdly, these non- concerns, points of view, or interests. Most often,
governmental organisations are being supported by advocacy NGOs exist to serve as a voice that they
advocates of the new policy agenda because it is consider otherwise would not be heard in social,
believed that they contribute to democratizing processes. economic, and political processes. Advocacy NGOs more
Optimistic expectations for democratization have been often exist at national and international levels.
boosted in the past decade by the successful challenges Operational NGOs can be regarded as NGOs, whose
citizens made to formerly strong states in Eastern Europe primary areas of activity are directed toward the
and Latin America. contribution or delivery of development or welfare
NGOs are ‘self governing, private, not-for-profit organi- services, including emergency relief, and environmental
zations that are geared to improving the quality of life for protection and management. These may exist at the local
disadvantaged people’. There has been rapid growth in or community level, district and national levels, and
NGO service provision, as neoliberal development regional and worldwide levels. Despite differentiations
policies have emphasized a decreasing role for between operational and advocacy NGOs, in many cases
governments as direct service providers. Government it may not be possible to characterize an NGO entirely as
services have been withdrawn under conditions as operational or advocacy. Some operational NGOs do
dictated by the World Bank and other donors, leaving focus entirely on service delivery and do not possess an
NGOs of varying types and with different capacities and analytical or advocacy base; some advocacy NGOs are
competencies of varying quality to pick-up the pieces, or oriented entirely toward activities such as policy analysis
fill the gaps which are left. The Good Governance and advocacy of development processes. However, most
agenda has emphasized a more flexible provision of NGOs are involved in a mix of activities.
services through using a range of sector and non-
governmental actors. Donors also believe in stronger role
of NGOs in service delivery on account of their Level of operations
organizational and comparative advantage such as
flexibility, commitment and cost effectiveness (Lewis, Among operational NGOs, it is possible to distinguish
2009). The liberal notion of civil society warns against the between international- level NGOs, often headquartered
domination of public life by the state, seeing NGOs and in developed countries. National level NGOs whose
other organizations of civil society as able to act as orientations are toward issues and interests in the
bulwark against such a tendency. Donors such USAID, countries in which they are based and local-level or
for example has been leading donors in supporting NGOs community-based NGOs that generally exist to address
as vehicles for strengthening democratization process concerns in relatively localized geographical areas.
through advocacy and voter education and incubators of NGOs operating at the community level often reflect
civil society ideas and values. Third sectors leaders memberships comprising individuals who have come
should be seen as guardians of civil society both wider together to address immediate community-based
civil responsibilities and as responsible for expressions of interests. While often possessing limited technical or
civil society within their organizations implementation capacity, community-level NGOs can be
especially significant in projects that require identification
of local needs or direct beneficiary participation. NGOs
NGOS STRATEGIES operating at the national and international levels often
have important technical and organizational capacities. In
While accomplishing their role nongovernmental some cases, larger and more capable NGOs can serve
organisations are adapting various strategies. In the first as intermediaries between governments, development
category there is operational and advocacy type of agencies, and other NGOs, channeling information,
NGOs. This may be interpreted as the choice between resources, and technical support. Some international
small-scale change achieved directly through projects NGOs, and some national NGOs have become capable
and large-scale change promoted indirectly through in a number of roles, including provision of donor support
influence on the political system (Mostashari, 2005). The to smaller NGOs (ADB, 2004).
functions of an NGO relates to designing and imple-
menting concrete action programmes that result directly
to changes in the conditions of persons, cultural artefacts, ORIENTATION OF ACTIVITY
or the natural environment; development, food aid, health
care, the protection of historical landmarks etc. The NGOs reflect differences in philosophy, purpose,
function of advocacy NGOs are aimed at influencing the specialization, and operational approach. For operational
opinions, policies, and practices of national and purposes, NGOs can be classified by characteristics such
international governmental authorities, social groups and as
general public (Vedder, 2007). Advocacy NGOs can be
regarded as NGOs whose primary orientation is toward 1. Purpose—for example, religious versus secular;
8 Int. J. Peace and Dev. Stud.

2. Operational orientation—for example, a relief and Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 13, 2009, Hillary
welfare orientation versus a development orientation; Clinton said, ‘we must use what has been called smart
3. Approach—for example, service delivery versus power- the full range of tools at our disposal- diplomatic,
participatory activities; and economic, political and military, legal and cultural picking
4. Degree of openness—for example, a large degree of the right tool, or combination of tools for each situation
openness and public exposure versus a more closed, with smart power diplomacy will be the vanguard of
private character, or willingness to cooperate with foreign policy’. The theorist of international relations
institutions emphasizes the role of ideas, norms, and culture in
international relations. A good example of this influence is
In terms of their structure, NGOs may be large or small, the way that international actors rely on ethically charged
formal or informal, bureaucratic or flexible. In terms of claims and counterclaims to justify their behaviour or
funding, many are externally funding, while others criticize the behavior of others (2010). In the contem-
depend on locally mobilized resources. Some may be porary times this type of job has been assigned to NGOs.
well resourced and affluent, while others may lead a This is how development is always conditional viewed by
‘hand to month’ existence, struggling to survive from one different recipient countries. The recipient country has to
year to the next. There are NGOs with highly pro- fulfil some conditions, for instance liberalizing her
fessionalized staff, while others rely heavily on volunteers economy, strengthening human rights situation and free
and supporters, In terms of values, NGOs are driven by a press. While accomplishing the same no country can
range of motivations. There are secular NGOs based ignore the role of NGOs.
organizations. Some may be charitable and paternalistic, In contrast to this positive view of NGOs, a dependency-
others seeking to pursue radical or employment based oriented perspective argues that some NGOs are simply
approaches. There are also frequent references to other another arm of international capitalism. Although INGOs
similar terms such as ‘non-profit’ ‘voluntary’ and ‘civil are distinguished from intergovernmental organizations
society’ organizations. ‘Voluntary organization’ or like the Peace Corps, the United Nations, the World Bank,
‘charities’ are terms that are common in the UK, following and the U.S. During the 1980s, for instance, INGOs were
a long tradition of volunteering and voluntary work that involved in 128 World Bank projects, giving both groups
has been informed by Christian values and the develop- more power and influence. The fear is that this will result
ment of charity. Non-profit organization is frequently used in more projects that benefit international capital (e.g.,
in the United states, where the market is dominant and building of airports and high-ways) instead of the mass
the citizen organizations are rewarded with fiscal benefits population (e.g., building low-cost housing and health
if they show that they not commercial, profit-making clinics). If this is true, then involvement by INGOs could
entities and work for common public. ‘NGO’ has come to worsen over urbanization by creating the illusion of urban
be used in relation to organizations which work vibrancy without providing additional services for new
internationally or those belonging to developing context. migrants to the city. It could also slow economic growth in
the long run by exacerbating North-South resource
imbalances, impeding local institutional development. A
Negative image of NGOs number of quantitative studies have demonstrated
convincingly that, in fact, structural adjustment policies
The other side of the fact is that they are being viewed as have reduced state spending in health, education, and
the new ways of imperialistic designs. Recognizing this other social services. This has contributed to over-
shift in power, the power holders are replacing the most urbanization, slowed economic expansion, and hurt the
confrontational style of power giving much greater poorest segments of society.
emphasis on the soft power. Keohane and Nye define
soft power as, the ability to get desired outcomes
because others means loses their weight. It is the ability Conclusion
to achieve goals through attraction rather than coercion.
It works through convincing others to follow or to get As we have seen, with the growth in the involvement of
them to agree to norms and institutions that produce the NGOs in many aspects of politics, government services
desired behavior. Soft power can rest on the appeal of have been withdrawn under conditions as dictated by the
one’s ideas or culture or ability to set the agenda through World Bank and other donors, leaving NGOs of varying
standards and institutions that shape the preferences of types and with different capacities and competencies of
others. It depends largely on the persuasiveness of the varying quality to pick-up the pieces, or fill the gaps which
free information that an actor seeks to transmit. Soft are left. The Good Governance agenda has emphasized
power combined with US’s military and economic might is a more flexible provision of services through using a
providing the basis for a new approach to foreign policy range of non-governmental actors. Donors also believe in
termed as smart power. It is the ability to combine soft stronger role of NGOs in service delivery on account of
and hard into a winning strategy. For example in her their organizational and comparative advantage such as
 Dar 9

flexibility, commitment and cost effectiveness. NGOs are David L (2000). Developemnt NGOs and the challenge of change New
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