Difference between revisions of "History of the NGO Sector"
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The devastation brought about by the use of nuclear weapons during the Second World War led to a new push for peace. American scientists involved in the development of atomic bombs founded the Federation of Atomic Scientists in November 1945 to call for international control over nuclear and other weapons. The Inter-American Judicial Committee, founded in 1946, called for governments to consider the “rights and duties of war.” | The devastation brought about by the use of nuclear weapons during the Second World War led to a new push for peace. American scientists involved in the development of atomic bombs founded the Federation of Atomic Scientists in November 1945 to call for international control over nuclear and other weapons. The Inter-American Judicial Committee, founded in 1946, called for governments to consider the “rights and duties of war.” | ||
| − | Another organization which aimed to limited the use of nuclear energy was founded in 1953 | + | Another organization, the Atomic Energy Commision, which aimed to limited the use of nuclear energy was founded in 1953, and three years later became the International Atomic Energy Agency. The renewed call for cooperation rather than conflict and peaceful use of nuclear energy came as the Cold War intensified. As relations between the US and Soviet Union became frosty, NGOs increased their efforts at peace and at interconnecting nations. |
Women stepped up their participation in peace efforts, campaigning for the antinuclear movement as mothers and grandmothers concerned over possibly contamination from nuclear weaponry. In 1961, Women Strike for Peace called to “End the Arms Race – Not the Human Race.” | Women stepped up their participation in peace efforts, campaigning for the antinuclear movement as mothers and grandmothers concerned over possibly contamination from nuclear weaponry. In 1961, Women Strike for Peace called to “End the Arms Race – Not the Human Race.” | ||
| − | During this time, educational and cultural NGOs became particularly important in fostering contact between the US and Soviet Union. Educational exchange between students from different countries had long been important | + | During this time, educational and cultural NGOs became particularly important in fostering contact between the US and Soviet Union. Educational exchange between students from different countries had long been important, both prewar and after World War II, to promote mutual understanding. In the 1950s, for example, the American Friends Service Commission sent voluntary forces and small groups to Russia. |
| − | NGOs were important in promoting cultural exchanges on a large scale. In 1951, the Youth for Understanding International Exchange was founded to promote peace and understanding through homestays. The Bancroft Foundation sent Japanese men to study at American colleges. These efforts were undertaken with a belief that international understanding hinged increasingly upon mutual appreciation among different cultures.<ref>Akira Iriye, ''Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World''. (University of California Press, 2002). p. 84.</ref> | + | NGOs were important in promoting cultural exchanges on a large scale. In 1951, the Youth for Understanding International Exchange was founded to promote peace and understanding through homestays. The Bancroft Foundation sent [[Japan NGO Sector|Japanese]] men to study at American colleges. These efforts were undertaken with a belief that international understanding hinged increasingly upon mutual appreciation among different cultures.<ref>Akira Iriye, ''Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World''. (University of California Press, 2002). p. 84.</ref> |
Elsewhere in the world, there were more wars – Korea, and civil wars in the Middle East. Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward program created a famine in China, while other countries in Asia started gaining independence from their colonizers. | Elsewhere in the world, there were more wars – Korea, and civil wars in the Middle East. Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward program created a famine in China, while other countries in Asia started gaining independence from their colonizers. | ||
| − | For international NGOs, it was a time for humanitarian and international relief efforts. UNICEF was established in 1946, initially caring for children in war-devastated areas in countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia, but the organization soon gave assistance to all countries “on the basis of need, without discrimination because of race, creed, nationality, status or political belief.” These efforts required large amounts of funding, with the bulk of it came from private donations from individuals and organizations in the US. | + | For international NGOs, it was a time for [[humanitarian NGOS|humanitarian]] and international relief efforts. UNICEF was established in 1946, initially caring for children in war-devastated areas in countries such as Poland and Czechoslovakia, but the organization soon gave assistance to all countries “on the basis of need, without discrimination because of race, creed, nationality, status or political belief.” These efforts required large amounts of funding, with the bulk of it came from private donations from individuals and organizations in the US. |
Efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to alleviate diseases and hunger were supplemented by Medical Assistance Programs International. Founded in 1954, the organization sent doctors and nurses from North America and Europe overseas. Specialists, for example, were sent to the Middle East and Africa in 1955 to help with an outbreak of tuberculosis. WHO also took over the work of My Brother’s Keeper, which became Brother’s Brother Foundation, to provide immunizations in developing countries. | Efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to alleviate diseases and hunger were supplemented by Medical Assistance Programs International. Founded in 1954, the organization sent doctors and nurses from North America and Europe overseas. Specialists, for example, were sent to the Middle East and Africa in 1955 to help with an outbreak of tuberculosis. WHO also took over the work of My Brother’s Keeper, which became Brother’s Brother Foundation, to provide immunizations in developing countries. | ||
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The most active organization for relief in the decade after the Second World War was the Catholic Relief Service, which shipped the largest volume of goods abroad. The third largest volume was sent by the Church World Service and fourth largest by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The second largest shipper, CARE, was a non-religious organization founded in the US in 1945. Another non-religious organization with a similar focus, Oxfam, was founded in 1942 in the UK. | The most active organization for relief in the decade after the Second World War was the Catholic Relief Service, which shipped the largest volume of goods abroad. The third largest volume was sent by the Church World Service and fourth largest by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The second largest shipper, CARE, was a non-religious organization founded in the US in 1945. Another non-religious organization with a similar focus, Oxfam, was founded in 1942 in the UK. | ||
| − | So important was the contribution of religious organizations to worldwide relief efforts that White calls the ecumenical movement | + | So important was the contribution of religious organizations to worldwide relief efforts that White calls the ecumenical movement, the movement towards Christian unity, as one of the most significant developments in international NGOs.<ref>White, p. 133.</ref> |
The term “development assistance” – economic, technological and other types of aid to developing countries – gained currency during this time, as well as support from the UN when it created a special fund for economic development in 1951. The Overseas Development Office was created to fund projects abroad by US and European organizations. By 1960, 69 percent of private funds were going to Asia, with a further 11 percent to Latin America and six percent to Africa.<ref>David Horton Smith, ''Grassroots Associations''. (Sage Publications, 2002), p. 53.</ref> Governments periodically contributed funds for projects in line with state policy, but these organizations often followed their own priorities.<ref>Ibid, p. 58.</ref> | The term “development assistance” – economic, technological and other types of aid to developing countries – gained currency during this time, as well as support from the UN when it created a special fund for economic development in 1951. The Overseas Development Office was created to fund projects abroad by US and European organizations. By 1960, 69 percent of private funds were going to Asia, with a further 11 percent to Latin America and six percent to Africa.<ref>David Horton Smith, ''Grassroots Associations''. (Sage Publications, 2002), p. 53.</ref> Governments periodically contributed funds for projects in line with state policy, but these organizations often followed their own priorities.<ref>Ibid, p. 58.</ref> | ||
| − | Human rights also gained importance. When the UN Human Rights Commission drafted an international covenant in 1948, in attendance were 18 countries, three UN affiliated agencies and 23 NGOs – six of them being women’s organizations emphasizing the equality of sexes. In the 1950s, the ILO adopted two conventions barring gender discrimination in the workplace and championing equal pay and non-discrimination. This led to the worldwide movement for women’s liberation in the 1960s. | + | [[Human rights NGOs|Human rights]] also gained importance. When the UN Human Rights Commission drafted an international covenant in 1948, in attendance were 18 countries, three UN affiliated agencies and 23 NGOs – six of them being women’s organizations emphasizing the equality of sexes. In the 1950s, the ILO adopted two conventions barring gender discrimination in the workplace and championing equal pay and non-discrimination. This led to the worldwide movement for women’s liberation in the 1960s. |
Matters relating to the conservation of nature also began gathering momentum. In 1946, the International Whaling Commission was established. Two years later, the International Union for the Protection of Nature was founded; in 1956, it changed its name to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. | Matters relating to the conservation of nature also began gathering momentum. In 1946, the International Whaling Commission was established. Two years later, the International Union for the Protection of Nature was founded; in 1956, it changed its name to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. | ||
Revision as of 10:59, 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.
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