Articles and Documents
Key Documents
Global Civil Society 2005/2006
The London School of Economics and Political Sciences has launched the fourth volume of its civil society yearbook. It describes the nature and history of global civil society and includes issue-oriented case studies, important records and data, as well as articles on current issues. See also: Global Civil Society 2004/2005, Global Civil Society 2003, Global Civil Society 2002 and Global Civil Society 2001.
Rev. Moon and the United Nations: A Challenge for the NGO Community (November 2001)
According to WEED, three Moon front groups operate as accredited NGOs at the UN and more have applied for NGO status. This paper raises questions about who should qualify for NGO status and what protections should be developed against well-financed charlatans.
NGOs and Global Policy-Making (June 2000)
An analysis that provides historical background and emphasizes NGOs' growing contemporary importance, diversity, impact on policy, etc.
"NGOs and the United Nations" by Global Policy Forum (June 17, 1999)
A comprehensive and critical report that reviews recent progress and problems of NGOs at the UN. Prepared as input to the second report of the Secretary General. Includes comments on GPF's report.
NGOs in a Global Future: Marrying Local Delivery to Worldwide Leverage (December 1999)
This paper explores the main economic, social and political trends affecting the NGO world, and argues that these trends call for major changes in NGO roles, relationships, capacities and accountabilities. (NGO Café)
"NGO Access at the UN"
A narrative account of NGO access covering the period from 1996 to 1999 with many links to further information.
2009
Civil Society, Democracy and Good Governance in Africa (February 2009)
Donor-driven, Western-type NGOs are undermining traditional African civil society. These imported NGOs set the agenda without having rooted relations with local society. International analysts and donors must widen their concept of civil society to develop sustainable democracy and good governance in the region. (CEU Political Science Journal)
2008
Aid Effectiveness: The Myth of NGO Superiority (April 2008)
This Development & Cooperation study examines why some NGOs from rich countries distribute aid to the world's poorest no more effectively than official state agencies. The Swiss and Swedish NGOs under scrutiny in this paper replicated government policy, rather than channeling aid to areas overlooked by governmental development agencies. The paper concludes that NGOs would provide better-targeted aid if they undertook independent initiatives amongst the lowest income groups which governments fail to reach.
2007
While "power elites" and states often claim that free markets and a globalized economy promote democracy, this Toward Freedom article argues that these systems actually widen North-South disparities. The author claims that "NGOs are often expected to fill in the gaps," however states repress and marginalize civil society. NGOs must partner and build strong networks in order to effect change.
2006
Strengthening Democratic Governance: The Role of Civil Society (September 21, 2006)
This Wilton Park report delves into the challenges that grassroots organizations face in their efforts to promote government accountability and citizen participation. In their intertwined activities of advocacy, monitoring and providing services, NGOs often encounter government interference, unreasonable donor demands and questions about their own legitimacy. The report encourages NGOs to focus on attaining sustainable results and to "not be diverted" in their operations by such obstacles.
Strengthening Global Civil Society (April 2006)
This report from the Institute for Public Policy Research urges that "global civil society" must create a "more level playing field for the global south," a region where NGOs typically lack resources and have largely been ignored. The author recommends strengthening southern organizations' research and policy analysis and promoting financial independence. The report also discusses the value of free media and access to information in pressuring governments and mobilizing public awareness.
2005
How Civil Society Organisations Use Evidence to Influence Policy Processses (July 2005)
Academics and NGO experts have conducted extensive research on organizational aspects of NGOs. This approach tends to examine NGOs in a "vaccuum," and not in the broader context of international policy-making. The authors of this Overseas Development Institute paper reviewed existing literature on NGOs, with the aim of clarifying some of the tactics civil society employs in influencing public policy.
2004
Learning in Partnerships (May 2004)
This BOND paper explores how NGOs in industrialized countries share resources and expertise with NGOs in less developed countries to achieve common development goals. The author warns that Northern NGOs can limit how much their Southern partners learn from this relationship if they impose corporate management principles of repetitive audits and reporting procedures. NGOs at the grassroots become less culturally diverse when they adopt corporate practices, and this removes them from the reality of the development problems they seek to tackle.
