Difference between revisions of "History of the NGO Sector"
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Many private organizations kept up their activities during the wars and depression. Some organizations grew in importance, and some new international NGOs were established. The membership of the International Cooperative Alliance grew to 71 million, and the International Federation of Trade Unions to 20 million. Rotary International reportedly had $1 million in income, while the Jewish Agency for Palestine had over $4 million in income a year.<ref>Ibid, p. 6.</ref> Many groups redoubled their efforts, especially in matters of humanity, peace, religion, arts and sciences, and labor. On the eve of the Second World War, in the late 1930s, over 1,000 international NGOs existed. | Many private organizations kept up their activities during the wars and depression. Some organizations grew in importance, and some new international NGOs were established. The membership of the International Cooperative Alliance grew to 71 million, and the International Federation of Trade Unions to 20 million. Rotary International reportedly had $1 million in income, while the Jewish Agency for Palestine had over $4 million in income a year.<ref>Ibid, p. 6.</ref> Many groups redoubled their efforts, especially in matters of humanity, peace, religion, arts and sciences, and labor. On the eve of the Second World War, in the late 1930s, over 1,000 international NGOs existed. | ||
| − | In the two decades between the First and Second World Wars, activities relating to service or relief work gained prominence. The Save the Children Fund was founded in the United Kingdom in 1919 to coordinate efforts to help starving children around the world. The first international conference on social work was held in Paris in 1928, attended by about 2,500 delegates from 24 countries. | + | In the two decades between the First and Second World Wars, activities relating to service or relief work gained prominence. The Save the Children Fund was founded in the United Kingdom in 1919 to coordinate efforts to help starving children around the world. The first international conference on social work was held in [[France NGO Sector|Paris]] in 1928, attended by about 2,500 delegates from 24 countries. |
Emergency relief also became a focus for international NGOs during the wars. Groups aimed to provide relief to victims of wars, civil wars and totalitarianism. They also focused on national building or reconstruction efforts. The International Migration Service was established in 1925 to “render service through cooperative effort” to migrants. In 1938, the IMS set up branches in Germany, the US, and other countries. | Emergency relief also became a focus for international NGOs during the wars. Groups aimed to provide relief to victims of wars, civil wars and totalitarianism. They also focused on national building or reconstruction efforts. The International Migration Service was established in 1925 to “render service through cooperative effort” to migrants. In 1938, the IMS set up branches in Germany, the US, and other countries. | ||
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Despite the wars that created a spirit of fierce nationalism among peoples, international NGOs flourished in their scope, and membership. Before the First World War, members of NGOs were primarily from Europe and North America, but by the Second World War, participation had extended to all parts of the world. The Soviet Union, for example, refused to participate in international organizations because they were regarded as bourgeois institutions that served the interests of capitalists. Not everyone, however, agreed: the Labor and Socialist International organization in 1923 opposed the Comintern’s stance. | Despite the wars that created a spirit of fierce nationalism among peoples, international NGOs flourished in their scope, and membership. Before the First World War, members of NGOs were primarily from Europe and North America, but by the Second World War, participation had extended to all parts of the world. The Soviet Union, for example, refused to participate in international organizations because they were regarded as bourgeois institutions that served the interests of capitalists. Not everyone, however, agreed: the Labor and Socialist International organization in 1923 opposed the Comintern’s stance. | ||
| − | The expansion in the membership of international NGOs to include participants from all over the world can be seen in the growth of women’s organizations. Before 1919, membership in the various organizations such as the International Council of Women, International Alliance of Women, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom was limited to Europe and North America. In the 1920s, national sections were created in Latin America, the Middle East and Asia. These sections joined the international bodies, which also created an international setting for the discussions on previously taboo topics such as birth control. | + | The expansion in the membership of international NGOs to include participants from all over the world can be seen in the growth of [[Woman NGOs|women’s organizations]]. Before 1919, membership in the various organizations such as the International Council of Women, International Alliance of Women, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom was limited to Europe and North America. In the 1920s, national sections were created in [[Latin America and CAribbean|Latin America]], the Middle East and [[Asia]]. These sections joined the international bodies, which also created an international setting for the discussions on previously taboo topics such as birth control. |
| − | In this period, American foundations began focusing their efforts internationally. During the first wave of their existence that focused principally on the advancement for formal knowledge, the Carnegie Corporation funded a 1932 project called the “Africa Industrialization Study.” The 350-page report, Modern Industry and the African, was touted as the “first comprehensive study” of Africa under the impact of European civilization. | + | In this period, American foundations began focusing their efforts internationally. During the first wave of their existence that focused principally on the advancement for formal knowledge, the Carnegie Corporation funded a 1932 project called the “Africa Industrialization Study.” The 350-page report, Modern Industry and the African, was touted as the “first comprehensive study” of [[Africa]] under the impact of European civilization. |
==The Establishment of the UN: Post-1945== | ==The Establishment of the UN: Post-1945== | ||
Revision as of 10:10, 6 August 2008
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as we know them today are generally thought to have come into existence around the mid-nineteenth century. It was only about a century later that the importance of NGOs was officially recognized by the United Nations. At the UN Congress in San Francisco in 1968, a provision was made in Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations framework that qualified NGOs in the field of economic and social development to receive consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
The development of modern NGOs has largely mirrored that of general world history, particularly after the Industrial Revolution. NGOs have existed in some form or another as far back as 25,000 years ago. Since 1850, more than 100,000 private, not-for-profit organizations with an international focus have been founded. The growth of NGOs really took off after the Second World War, with about 90 international NGOs founded each year, compared with about 10 each year in the 1890s. Only about 30 percent of early international NGOs have survived, although those organizations founded after the wars have had a better survival rate. Many more NGOs with a local, national or regional focus have been created, though like their international counterparts, not all have survived or have been successful.
This article presents an overview of the history of modern day NGOs, with particular emphasis on international organizations. It looks at the different causes that have been championed by NGOs as the events in world history have unfolded, from the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution to the World Wars and through the aftermath of the Cold War. It also looks at the evolution of the structure and purpose of NGOs as they have matured over the years.
