Defining and Constituting NGOs (original) (raw)
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Civil society, public sphere and NGOs nowadays
Organisationskommunikation, 2019
In a post-modern context, the terms civil society and public sphere go hand in hand. The former can be traced back to the Aristotelian concept of koinonia politike that was after translated into the Latin version as societas civilis (Hallberg & Wittrock, 2006, p. 29). After following its own road with political philosophers, historians and other social scientists, as well as the term’s definition by Hegel, as part of a well-ordered set of relations among various spheres of action in a complex society, the term started to gain importance during the 1980s and 1990s, although it can be questioned whether “the increase in frequency of use does not go along with a decrease in the clarity of the concept” (Wagner, 2006, p. 1).
The Mystery of Civil Society and NGOs in the 21st Century (2005)
The Mysteries of Civil Society and NGOs in the 21st Century , 2005
The author, an experienced scholar, activist and writer on governance, leadership and civil society, provides in this book, an expose on the nature and character of the NGO world today and of non-profit entities operating in the third zone interfacing the State and business; asserting that while global revolutions in information technologies, social systems and global political and economic realities have transformed business and the State, their impact on the civil society organisational sector can be said to be tsunarnic. This book is an expose into the moral corruption in the non-pmfit sector, into what the author calls the greatest threat to mankind in the 21° Century: the emerging eliticisation, depersonalization, demoralization and immoralization of civil society and the alienation of the IndivIdual. In very clear and unmistaken language, the author gives an insiders view to the NGO phenomenon, supported by a realistic paradigm and understanding of social praxis that is completely authentic and unexpected in a field that could be considered as emerging The author provides a fresh, original and authentic view of what non-govemmenta! organisations are, x-rays the non-governmental world or the Third Zone, and gives insight into the various manifestation of NGO phenomenon that exists today, availing us with the most extensive characterisation of NGO typologies by any social scientist.
Look Who's Talking!: Second Thoughts about NGOs as Representing Civil Society
Journal of Asian and African Studies, 2009
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are major players in development aid today. It is widely believed they represent civil society and that, for example, the UN and the World Bank would be strengthened if NGOs were given a larger influence over policy formulation and development. As one can hardly speak of an NGO community, the issue of representation is far from easily solved. NGOs often compete for visibility, clients and influence, and representation leaves a lot to be desired. Hence, governments' and intergovernmental institutions' reluctance to accept immediately NGOs as partners, may be necessary for NGOs to become representative and, paradoxically, for strengthening civil society as well.
EuroStudies - HOU, 2021
In the context of the uncertainty of contemporary socio-political developments, the modern conceptualization of "civil society" and the definition of its role in systemic evolution are sought in the variety of current sociological and political interpretations. A central issue of interpretative differentiation is the form of its coexistence with established systemic structures, capitalism and the globalized state. The connection of civil society with “social capital”, a concept that encompasses the capitalist concept of the accumulation of privileged relationships and bonds with the aim of gaining trust or loyalty, highlights its managerial character in the form of professional organizations with a vertical corporate structure: non-governmental organizations (NGOs & INGOs). However, the reduction and institutionalization of this “representative” social form as a consensual “third sector” of systemic development in intertwining with the Market and the State, which is simultaneously presented as a space for hosting and housing social movements, raises reasonable objections to the classification of the “third sphere” in the field of civil society.
‘State Bureaucrats’ and ‘Those NGO People’: Promoting the idea of civil society, hindering the state
One of the characteristics of Polish foreign aid is its focus on the ‘transition experience’ and civil society. This specific celebration of the ‘Polish success story’ contrasts sharply with public debates that frequently criticise the weaknesses of Polish civil society and the difficulties in state – non-state relations. The Polish Aid apparatus itself is not immune to these problems, often exhibiting antagonistic relations between NGOs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. By looking at the relations linking these stakeholders this text aims to analyse relations between the ‘state’ and ‘civil society’ in Poland. As the text demonstrates, complicated contemporary relations between NGOs and the State are first the outcome of the country’s troubled history of civil society, and an inheritance of the Solidarity movement when the concept of civil society was built on the idea of opposition to the state. Second, the anti-state attitude characterising contemporary organisations was also fostered by foreign institutions, which supported the Solidarity movement in its efforts to overturn the socialist regime in Poland, and later in the 1990s, became the strongest proponents of civil society and NGOs. Finally, these preexisting historical conditions for the strong polarisation of NGOs and state institutions are now additionally reinforced by the ‘professionalization’ and ‘institutionalisation’ of NGOs. However, the uncritical promotion of ‘Western standards’ exhibited in the ideals of transparency and audit culture, rather than generating positive change only antagonises NGOs and state institutions. The ultimate effect of this process is that NGOs become more and more obsessed with bureaucratic modes of operating, and start to resemble state institutions. Effectively, NGOs risk losing their identity which is so strongly built on the non-governmental aspect of their work. Effectively, the perpetuation of the state/non-State opposition becomes a strategy which allows this separate identity to be maintained and NGOs status to remain unchallenged.
NGOs: civil society in the global context
This paper will show how NGOs, despite the lack of an internal democratic process, by voicing a large, unrepresented segment of the global population, are the expression of the participatory democracy, the bedrock of their legitimacy.
The Role of Civil Society in governance
ABSTRACT Civil Society organizations are dynamic and essential for the preservation of democracy. Every government has an obligation to govern its people in a manner that promotes prosperity through application of legitimate means of governance. In a democratic country like Zambia it is a duty of government to rule following the democratic tenets which are; the respect for the rule of law, accountability and recognition of citizen participation in the governance process. It is therefore important that governments must continually be checked by the civil society organisations because they represent the governed majority who are voiceless. This research study looked at the role of CSOs in the the governance process of the country. The research was conducted at the Oasis forum in Lusaka. The study explains the role of the Oasis Forum in the governance process of the country, the challenges faced in the rapidly evolving contextual environment in which they operate and highlights on the measures that may be put in place to help harmonize the relationship between government and the Oasis Forum. The target population for this research was 150 where as the sample size was 30 respondents. The researcher used both primary and secondary data and the instrument used to collect primary data was questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data was a review of already written literature on the subject matter, Journal and newspapers This research work establishes that CSOs are key stakeholders in the governance process of the country for the role they play of promoting and protecting democracy. It is further revealed that CSO are the voice for the voiceless in society. CSOs are policy initiators because they influence policy formulation. Therefore an active and flourishing civil society movement is important if national development and democracy is to be achieved. In Zambia, the researcher found that there was a frustration of the work of the Oasis Forum because successive governments have for example been trying to introduce legislation that is targeted at regulating the Oasis Forum aimed at clamping on their roles rather than legislation that recognizes their roles in governance processes of the country. The study established that, though the Zambia government has made steady strides in democratization by embracing the civil society, the working environment remains generally not very conducive as there is mistrust between the CSOs and the government. It is recommended that CSOs need to become stronger; above all more representative, and to acquire the capacity necessary for them to engage both popular bases and the state in policy formulation and analysis, unlike the current situation where its activities are more concentrated in the urban areas and largely characterized as an elite phenomenon. The researcher recommends that there is need to create a harmonious working environment where trust can be created amongest the two. Government, especially the executive should embrace civil society organizations as partners in the governance process of the country and establish the spirit of tolerance. Civil society on the other hand needs to be open in their dealings as this is the only way government will trust them.