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Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political activism > Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
The Aid Chain explores the role of funding conditions in shaping
co-operation and resistance as aid moves from donors, to NGOs, to
local communities. Significant proportions of aid flow through the
non-governmental sector but questions are increasingly being asked
about the role of NGOs and whether they can deliver on their
ambitious claims. This study examines whether the existing aid
processes widely used by donors and NGOs are effective in tackling
poverty and exclusion. Findings from fieldwork in Uganda, South
Africa and the UK are used to show how the fast changing aid sector
has, in the context of a dynamic policy environment, encouraged the
mainstreaming of a managerial approach that does not admit of any
analysis of power relations or cultural diversity. This increasing
definition of the roles of NGOs as essentially technical, limits
the extent of the very development that the organizations were
initially established to promote. 'This disturbing and dramatically
important book has been crying out to be written. It is a stark
revelation of uncomfortable realities from which we often try to
hide...Anyone working in an aid organization who is serious about
achieving the MDGs has to read this book, and to act on its
lessons. ' Robert Chambers
Examines how the humanitarian order advances a message of moral
triumph and care while abandoning the dispossessed Prompted by a
growing number of refugees and other displaced people,
intersections of design and humanitarianism are proliferating. From
the IKEA Foundation's Better Shelter to Airbnb's Open Homes
program, the consumer economy has engaged the global refugee crisis
with seemingly new tactics that normalize an institutionally
sanctioned politics of evasion. Exploring "the global shelter
imaginary," this book charts the ways shelter functions as a form
of rightless relief that expels recognition of the rights of the
displaced and advances political paradoxes of displacement itself.
This book examines the effects of the transnational social and
environmental advocacy of foreign NGOs in China. Based on three
case studies, including China's first participatory development
project, its first successful case of transnational anti-dam
activism, and its first national park project, the book challenges
our typical understanding that global forces shape local outcomes.
Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in China and archival work in the
United States, Matsuzawa sheds light on the entrepreneurial
behaviors of Chinese activists, researchers, and government
officials. She shows that global projects are often substantially
transformed by local actors, despite the original intentions of
their foreign collaborators and even China's central government.
Thus, it is argued that foreign NGOs are not as hegemonic or
culturally imperialistic as is commonly viewed. Matsuzawa reveals
that their goals may change profoundly as a result of their
engagements with local actors on the ground. She offers a new
theory of transnational advocacy together with an account of the
Chinese party-state's rising concerns over the influence of foreign
NGOs. Activating China will be of interest to sociologists and
political scientists working in the fields of social movement
studies and activism in China.
"The NGO Factor in Africa "breaks new ground in understanding the
role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Africa. The book
historicizes NGOs using the Rockefeller Foundation as a case study,
looking at its tripartite paradoxical roles as an agent of
colonialism, globalization and development/underdevelopment. It
deploys interdisciplinary devices to show how the RF projects have
engaged in marginalization, patronage and 'othering' of African
values and customs and the ensuing controversies. Using
globalization, postmodern and postcolonial theories the book
deconstructs the long-held myths about NGO inviolability, and opens
ground for understanding their strengths. It interrogates sites of
contestation, apprehension and possibilities that the RF has
produced. Using RF projects, it looks at structures of hegemony,
race, power, class and gender that the RF has created. The book
illustrates the extent to which the RF has been instrumental in
spreading capitalism, imperialism in economic, political, cultural
and social realms through globalization. It desists from the grand
narrative approach that has dominated African history in the past
but instead gives agency and voice to those that have previously
been marginalized.
NGOs, Knowledge Production and Global Humanist Advocacy is an
empirically and theoretically rich account of how international
non-governmental organisations produce knowledge of and formulate
understandings about the world around them. The author applies
critical and sociological perspectives to analyse the social and
political limits of knowledge generated in support of global
advocacy efforts aimed at enhancing human rights and preventing
violent conflicts. It is found that, despite their transnational
networks and claims to humanist universality, the proximity of
global advocates to Western power structures and elite social
spaces delimits their worldviews and curtails the potential for
radical departures from mainstream political thinking. This book
will be of interest to scholars and students of international
relations, human rights, the sociology of knowledge, peace and
conflict studies, and critical security studies.
This book, based on 25 months of anthropological fieldwork,
examines activists and activism in Palestinian nongovernmental
organizations in Israel. It concentrates on the ways organizations
enable certain processes of self-identification based on activists'
constructions of modernity.
This title was first published in 2002. NGOs are receiving
increasing international attention and resources from policy
makers, donors, academics and others. The New Policy Agenda accepts
NGOs as agents for social welfare alongside the state and as
fostering democracy in the Developing World. Astonishingly,
however, there have been very few studies and no books on NGO field
workers. This study of field workers in Bangladesh, provides
excellent insights into this neglected field. Bangladesh is an
excellent example as, since independence in 1971, it has been a
'donor-dependent' country, both financially and functionally, and
since the 1980s has concentrated this funding towards NGOs rather
than to the state. The book shows how field workers are seen simply
as implementers, carrying out directions given by their superiors
and never being consulted on how best to achieve their goals. The
book examines four types of NGOs - international, national,
regional and small/local - in a number of sample locations. It
compares the benefits and facilities provided by each NGO to their
field workers, then explores the socio-economic background of both
field workers and their mid-level managers and examines the
interactions between these two groups and between field workers and
their clients. It also looks at the field workers' personal and
professional lives and problems and details their opinions on their
NGO's activities and policies and on development . The findings
show that NGO managers and donors lack knowledge of the realities
in the field and do not realise how certain policies, such as their
positive discrimination of women, can have negative results. It
proposes that NGO field workers should be more active in policy
making and puts forward several recommendations for changes in the
management and structure of future NGOs.
This title examines the roles and new opportunities arising from
the increasing participation of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) in peace-making, peacekeeping and peace-building processes,
both formal and informal, state-sponsored and unofficial. Drawing
on both academic experts and activists, this study brings together
contributions from those who have observed how NGOs have sought to
reflect civil society concerns, provide humanitarian relief,
monitor compliance with international norms and treaty
requirements, and disseminate information of concern to advocacy
networks.
A critical appraisal of the opportunities and constraints of NGOs
is provided alongside the examination of the NGOs role in the new
agendas for peace.
This title examines the roles and new opportunities arising from
the increasing participation of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) in peace-making, peacekeeping and peace-building processes,
both formal and informal, state-sponsored and unofficial. Drawing
on both academic experts and activists, this study brings together
contributions from those who have observed how NGOs have sought to
reflect civil society concerns, provide humanitarian relief,
monitor compliance with international norms and treaty
requirements, and disseminate information of concern to advocacy
networks.
A critical appraisal of the opportunities and constraints of NGOs
is provided alongside the examination of the NGOs role in the "new
agendas" for peace.
Over six billion dollars in developmental assistance is funneled
annually through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), yet little
is understood about the nature of their relationship with
communities and the real impact of their work. This book examines
what role NGOs really play in fighting poverty in Latin America.
Expert NGO professionals and scholars explore grass-roots
relationships between international religious and secular NGOs and
poor communities. They probe the power structures, cultural
assumptions, dangers and possibilities that underlie NGOs' work.
While fighting poverty is the mission of many NGOs, most are aware
that they often fail to make things better, and, in fact, may make
things worse. By providing a forum for Northern and Southern NGOs,
donors, scholars, and poor people themselves, this book explores
the causes and cures of poverty, and presses at the boundaries of
our understanding of participatory development. It identifies both
internal and external factors that influence the success of NGO
projects, and moves beyond standard best-practice theory to probe
more deeply the relationships that underlie poverty and how these
relationships can be shifted to achieve solutions.
This book deals with two major issues: how Indonesian NGOs survived under Suharto's authoritarian rule; and how NGOs contributed to the promotion of democracy in the post-Suharto era. If NGOs are to change from 'development' to 'movement' in democratic post-Suharto Indonesia, they must adjust not only their management and working style, but also their very ideology. This comprehensive study will be an important book for scholars interested in Asian studies, Indonesian politics and development studies. eBook available with sample pages: 0203200128
This book considers the proliferation in Malaysia over the past two decades of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) associated with various social movements, both to provide basic information about the NGOs and social movements, and to discuss their role in the development of civil society generally in particular their contribution to the reform movement, which has been gathering strength since 1998. The book discusses the nature and development of the movements, and shows that those movements concerned with human rights and women's issues have made significant contributions to the reform movement and been irrevocably changed by their involvement in it. eBook available with sample pages: 0203220498
Contents: Chapter I. Setting the Israeli Scene Introduction Historical Legacies: Roots of Gender Relations and Ethnic Tension The Functioning of the Formal Political System Women in political parties Women's political parties Women and voting Women in Knesset, committees, ministries Knesset's bureaucratic responses to women Women politicians Legal Arena Military Participation Contemporary Feminist Movement Living in a State of Siege: The Role of Women in the Peace Movement The Emergence of Women's Nongovernmental Organizations Resources and Funding Chapter II. Minding the Political Gap: The need for and development of a concept of political capital Introduction Philosophy and the Public Sphere: Enter Feminist Politics Women and politics: Toward feminist critical theory Women, citizenship and political participation Building Civil Society: Utilizing Social and Political Capital Examining civil society NGOs as learning sites Conceptualizing a New Term: 'Political Capital' Social capital is too diffuse A first consideration of 'political capital' The influence of Bourdieu's cultural capital The influence of Putnam's social capital Trust, norms and networks The influence of political culture Political education Education and democracy Informal education: liberation pedagogy and rights based education Nonformal education: Consciousness-raising Definition of Political capital Political capital in democracy Chapter III. Revealing political capital: Methods of discovery Nature of Study Qualitative research Feminist research Research Methods Research setting Israel Women's Network Bat Shalom Haifa Women's Coalition Research sample Sample size Sample: Socio-demographic description Gaining access to research sites Research Instruments Interviews Interview process Particpant observation Document review Research questions Hypothesis Data Analysis Limitations of Study Transportation Language Religion Time Chapte r IV. NGOs of their own: Women claim public space for political influence Introduction Why are NGOs needed: what gap do they address for women and how do they do that? NGOs create new discourse NGOs help women connect skills with action Women benefit more from women's NGOs than mixed-gender NGOs NGOs politicize traditional voluntary associations There is political power in the group NGOs can create a false illusion of change The formal political sphere is a male sphere The military encourages male political careers NGOs provide increased opportunities for women's political participation Summary The Influence of NGOs on the formal political system NGOs participate in legislation, lobbying and commities Members of Knesset rely on women's NGOs Most women in NGOs would consider running or have run for public office NGOs influence the wider society NGOs influence political parties^ NGOs act as stepping-stones into formal politics for women Perhaps NGOs should be temporary Summary Educational themes in NGOs Rate of university education is high Youth movements and student movements are formative Education in NGOs occurs in two ways: informal and nonformal Women learn skills through NGOs Women gain essential political knowledge via NGOs There is a need for more political training Social norms in women's NGOs differ from social norms in the formal political arena Women from horizontal and vertical networks through NGO participation Summary How does living in a time of protracted Palestinian-Israeli conflict affect women's issues and the work of women's NGOs? The survival of Israel is paramount Military careers are held in higher political esteem than other careers There is overlap between women's and peace NGOs The rise and fall of conflict influences women's participation Military conflict possibly increases levels of violence in the civilian society Conflict creates divided loyalties: nationalist struggle vs. feminist struggle Summary General trends in the three main NGOs Unexpected findings Relations between Israeli women and women from West Bank/Gaza are extremely strained Jewish-Arab coexistence lacks sincerity There are different pathways to NGO activism Chapter Summary Chapter V. Conclusion Introduction Contributions of the study Conclusive data Evidence of political capital From Social movements to NGO activism Social and political implications of NGO research Areas of future research Summary References Appendices Append ix A: Map of Israel Appendix B: Timeline Appendix C: 1999 Election Lists Appendix D: Current Members of Knesset (MKs) Appendix E: Women in the world's parliaments Appendix F: Isreali voting percentages Appendix G: Current Knesset ministers Appendix H: Pre-elections advertisement Appendix I: Letter from Palestinian intellectuals Appendix J: Patterns of movememnt/NGO relationships
In the last ten years, NGOs have become a force for transformation
in global politics and economics. Their numbers and size have grown
dramatically and they have assumed far more extensive
responsibilities as intermediaries between governments, businesses
and other institutions, and local communities and citizens. With
this growth has come an ever-more pressing requirement for
effective management among NGOs and their operations.Focusing on
development organizations working on issues of poverty and
injustice, but relevant to NGOs in all sectors, this volume brings
together a selection of key writings on how NGOs can position and
organize themselves to achieve maximum impact and effectiveness.
The editors set out the management challenges facing NGOs in a
stimulating Introduction followed by a range of contributions
divided into ten sets of issues.
The development and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
has been a contentious topic for the last three decades. While
there have been a number of social science analyses of the issues,
this is the first book to assess the role of Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) in the debate at such a wide geographic scale.
The various positions, for and against GMOs, particularly with
regard to transgenic crops, articulated by NGOs in the debate are
dissected, classified and juxtaposed to corresponding campaigns.
These are discussed in the context of key conceptual paradigms,
including nature fundamentalism and the organic movement,
post-colonialism, food sovereignty, anti-globalisation,
sustainability and feminism. The book also analyses how NGOs
interpret the debate and the persuasive communication tactics they
use. This provides greater understanding of the complexity of
negotiations in the debate and explains its specific features such
as its global scope and difficulty in finding compromises. The
author assesses the long-term interests of various participants and
changes in perceptions of science and in public communication as a
result. Examples of major NGOs such as Greenpeace, Oxfam and WWF
are included, but the author also provides new research into the
role of NGOs in Russia.
Illuminating the conditions for global governance to have
precipitated the devastating decline of one of the ocean's most
majestic creatures The International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is the world's foremost
organization for managing and conserving tunas, seabirds, turtles,
and sharks traversing international waters. Founded by treaty in
1969, ICCAT stewards what has become under its tenure one of the
planet's most prominent endangered fish: the Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Called "red gold" by industry insiders for the exorbitant price her
ruby-colored flesh commands in the sushi economy, the giant bluefin
tuna has crashed in size and number under ICCAT's custodianship.
With regulations to conserve these sea creatures in place for half
a century, why have so many big bluefin tuna vanished from the
Atlantic? In Red Gold, Jennifer E. Telesca offers unparalleled
access to ICCAT to show that the institution has faithfully
executed the task assigned it by international law: to fish as hard
as possible to grow national economies. ICCAT manages the bluefin
not to protect them but to secure export markets for commodity
empires-and, as a result, has become complicit in their
extermination. The decades of regulating fish as commodities have
had disastrous consequences. Amid the mass extinction of all kinds
of life today, Red Gold reacquaints the reader with the splendors
of the giant bluefin tuna through vignettes that defy
technoscientific and market rationales. Ultimately, this book
shows, changing the way people value marine life must come not only
from reforming ICCAT but from transforming the dominant culture
that consents to this slaughter.
Banking on Knowledge is one of the first studies of the way in which the World Bank is reinventing itself as the 'Knowledge Bank'. The contributions to Banking on Knowledge are from an internationally acclaimed group of experts, including an original and groundbreaking piece by Joseph Stiglitz, former Chief Economist and Vice President of the World Bank. Subjects covered include: * the changing policy emphasis within the World Bank as it develops alliances with non-governmental actors and promotes civil society * first-hand accounts of the making of this new global network amidst the plethora of existing political, commercial and non-governmental networks * detailed case studies of the problems faced by think tanks and other knowledge institutions across the world * whether knowledge, information and data is used by experts successfully to influence policy. Timely, original and provocative, this book is essential reading for students, researchers, policy makers and professionals with an interest in the future of the World Bank, the role of think tanks and the changing nature of development.
bBanking on Knowledge is one of the first studies of the way in which the World Bank is reinventing itself as the 'Knowledge Bank'. The book addresses how international organizations and governments are developing partnerships with think tanks, research institutes and other knowledge institutions in the hope of informing and improving policies for reform and development around the world. Subjects covered include: * the changing policy emphasis within the World Bank as it develops alliances with non-governmental actors and promotes civil society * first-hand accounts of the making of this new global network amidst the plethora of existing political, commercial and non-governmental networks * detailed case studies of the problems faced by think tanks and other knowledge institutions across the world * whether knowledge, information and data is used by experts successfully to influence policy. Timely, original and provocative, this book is essential reading for students, researchers, policy makers and professionals with an interest in the future of the World Bank, the role of think tanks and the changing nature of development.
This study analyzes the readiness of the British military
establishment for war in 1899 and its performance in the South
African War (1899-1902). It focuses on the career of Field Marshal
Paul Sanford, 3rd Baron Methuen, whose traditional military
training, used so effectively in Queen Victoria's small wars, was
put to the test by the modern challenges of the South African War.
A subsidiary aim of this work is to correct and refine the
historical consensus that Methuen's campaing in the South African
War was plagued by practical errors and poor judgement. The South
African War was a crucial transitional episode in the history of
the British army. Unlike Great Britain's other expeditions, it
required the concentrated resources of the entire empire. It was a
modern war in the sense that it employed the technology, the
weaponry, the communications, and the transportation of the second
industrial revolution.
Learning and Forgetting in Development NGOs draws on a range of
theoretical approaches and empirical evidence to explore how
development organisations learn or fail to learn from experience.
Despite the overwhelming discourses of NGOs as learning
organisations, little is known about the phenomenon of learning
within NGOs. As constantly changing buzzwords and institutional
approaches abound and old ideas and concepts are "re-discovered",
development NGOs are often accused of trying to reinvent the wheel
as they struggle to escape from the challenges of development
amnesia. Based on detailed empirical data on the everyday practices
and accounts of development practitioners, this book moves between
the boundaries of organisational institutionalism, learning
theories, management and ethnographies of NGOs practices to
investigate the many faces of organisational learning in an attempt
to counteract development amnesia. Learning and Forgetting in
Development NGOs will be an essential guide for students, scholars
and development practitioners with an interest in development
management and organisational theory.
The United States' national security depends on a secure, reliable
and resilient cyberspace. The inclusion of digital systems into
every aspect of US national security has been underway since World
War II and has increased with the proliferation of Internet enabled
devices. There is an increasing need to develop a robust deterrence
framework within which the US and its allies can dissuade would be
adversaries from engaging in various cyber activities. Yet despite
a desire to deter adversaries, the problems associated with
dissuasion remain complex, multifaceted, poorly understood and
imprecisely specified. Challenges including, credibility,
attribution, escalation and conflict management to name but a few
remain ever present and challenge the US in its efforts to foster
security in cyberspace. These challenges need to be addressed in a
deliberate and multidisciplinary approach that combines political
and technical realities to provide a robust set of policy options
to decision makers. The Cyber Deterrence Problem brings together a
multi-disciplinary team of scholars from multiple institutions with
expertise in computer science, deterrence theory, cognitive
psychology, intelligence studies, and conflict management to
analyze and develop a robust assessment of the necessary
requirements and attributes for achieving deterrence in cyberspace.
Beyond simply addressing the base challenges associated with
deterrence many of the chapters also propose strategies and tactics
to enhance deterrence in cyberspace and emphasize conceptualizing
how the US deters adversaries.
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