Difference between revisions of "History of the NGO Sector"
From NGO Handbook
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Against this backdrop, the [[Numbers of NGOs|number of NGOs]] mushroomed, from 2,795 in 1972 to 12,686 in 1984. Taking into account local branches, there were 79,786 NGOs in 1984, according to the Union of International Associations.<ref>Union of International Associations, ''In International Organizations: Abbreviations and Addresses, 1984-1985''. (Munich, 1985), p. 508.</ref> The result of this growth in NGOs, says Iriye: “intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations have played a decisive role—in some instances even more so than the sovereign states—in the global transformation since the 1970s.”<ref>Iriye, p. 129.</ref> It was also during this period, in the 1970s, that the term “NGOs” gained official currency.<ref>See Eric Hobsbawm, ''The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991''. (Pantheon, 1995).</ref> | Against this backdrop, the [[Numbers of NGOs|number of NGOs]] mushroomed, from 2,795 in 1972 to 12,686 in 1984. Taking into account local branches, there were 79,786 NGOs in 1984, according to the Union of International Associations.<ref>Union of International Associations, ''In International Organizations: Abbreviations and Addresses, 1984-1985''. (Munich, 1985), p. 508.</ref> The result of this growth in NGOs, says Iriye: “intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations have played a decisive role—in some instances even more so than the sovereign states—in the global transformation since the 1970s.”<ref>Iriye, p. 129.</ref> It was also during this period, in the 1970s, that the term “NGOs” gained official currency.<ref>See Eric Hobsbawm, ''The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991''. (Pantheon, 1995).</ref> | ||
| − | Iriye attributes this growth to what historian Eric Hobsbawm calls “transnational economy” in the world . Businesses began growing beyond borders, challenging the traditional hegemony of governments in defining world order. Thus the relationship between state and society changed, with governments increasingly willing to turn to civil organization to share tasks such as social services. | + | Iriye attributes this growth to what historian Eric Hobsbawm calls “transnational economy” in the world . [[NGO-Buiness Partnerships|Businesses]] began growing beyond borders, challenging the traditional hegemony of governments in defining world order. Thus the relationship between state and society changed, with governments increasingly willing to turn to civil organization to share tasks such as social services. |
NGOs cropped up in countries that did not previously have any form of civil society. In Czechoslovakia, an informal group of intellectuals formed Charter 1977 to call for the respect of human rights. In Poland, Solidarity, a labor organization for dockworkers founded by future prime minister Lech Walesa, attracted a membership totaling nine million. In the Soviet Union, students, intellectuals and dissidents began to organize themselves, often clandestinely. | NGOs cropped up in countries that did not previously have any form of civil society. In Czechoslovakia, an informal group of intellectuals formed Charter 1977 to call for the respect of human rights. In Poland, Solidarity, a labor organization for dockworkers founded by future prime minister Lech Walesa, attracted a membership totaling nine million. In the Soviet Union, students, intellectuals and dissidents began to organize themselves, often clandestinely. | ||
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A significant development among NGOs was the focus on primary health care. At the WHO and UNICEF Conference in Alma-Ata in 1971, there was a declaration to assert the rights and duties of people everywhere to participate in primary health care “in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination.” | A significant development among NGOs was the focus on primary health care. At the WHO and UNICEF Conference in Alma-Ata in 1971, there was a declaration to assert the rights and duties of people everywhere to participate in primary health care “in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination.” | ||
| − | The most important result of this new spirit of self-determination was the founding of Doctors without Borders (Médicins sans Frontières) in 1971. One of its founders, Bernard Kouchner, reportedly said it was “subversive” that government authorization was needed to assist the plight of peoples in need. Through its relief work in places such as Nicaragua, Vietnam, Thailand and Africa, the line between humanitarian assistance and human rights activism became blurred. | + | The most important result of this new spirit of self-determination was the founding of Doctors without Borders (Médicins sans Frontières) in 1971. One of its founders, Bernard Kouchner, reportedly said it was “subversive” that government authorization was needed to assist the plight of peoples in need. Through its relief work in places such as Nicaragua, [[Vietnam NGO Sector|Vietnam]], Thailand and Africa, the line between humanitarian assistance and human rights activism became blurred. |
Iriye says this spirit of self-determination was in conflict with local political ambitions and traditional prejudices. Where there was an absence of a system of governance, state authorities did not easily tolerate the activities of non-state actors. As more humanitarian agencies became involved, they posed a greater challenge the existing framework of state sovereignty. This led to the emergence of civil society as a by-product of international humanitarian work.<ref> Iriye, p. 141.</ref> | Iriye says this spirit of self-determination was in conflict with local political ambitions and traditional prejudices. Where there was an absence of a system of governance, state authorities did not easily tolerate the activities of non-state actors. As more humanitarian agencies became involved, they posed a greater challenge the existing framework of state sovereignty. This led to the emergence of civil society as a by-product of international humanitarian work.<ref> Iriye, p. 141.</ref> | ||
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Like human rights, developmental assistance also grew in importance among NGOs. More international NGOs were founded as developing countries continued to face problems as competition in trade intensified and the cost of energy rose, leading to the growing rift between countries in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In France, for example, the Catholic Church expanded the scope of existing organizations and created new ones to extend assistance to former French colonies in Africa and Latin America.<ref>Op. cit. Charles Condamines, ''L’aide humanitaire entre la politique et les affaires," (Paris, 1989), pages 21-27 in Iriye, p. 141.</ref> | Like human rights, developmental assistance also grew in importance among NGOs. More international NGOs were founded as developing countries continued to face problems as competition in trade intensified and the cost of energy rose, leading to the growing rift between countries in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. In France, for example, the Catholic Church expanded the scope of existing organizations and created new ones to extend assistance to former French colonies in Africa and Latin America.<ref>Op. cit. Charles Condamines, ''L’aide humanitaire entre la politique et les affaires," (Paris, 1989), pages 21-27 in Iriye, p. 141.</ref> | ||
| − | Another aspect came to the forefront as countries became more industrialized – the protection of the environment. In 1973, the UN Environmental Program defined international environment policy in connection with developmental assistance. Adoption was quick: the European Community which was also being established at the time adopted environmental action plans and began coordinating plans to develop common regulations for environmental protection. | + | Another aspect came to the forefront as countries became more industrialized – the protection of the [[Environmental NGOs|environment]]. In 1973, the UN Environmental Program defined international environment policy in connection with developmental assistance. Adoption was quick: the European Community which was also being established at the time adopted environmental action plans and began coordinating plans to develop common regulations for environmental protection. |
NGOs also became more outspoken in the protection of endangered species. They became more successful than ever in persuading governments to take wildlife protection seriously. In 1972, the World Wildlife Fund and Friends of the Earth spearheaded a campaign to save the whales through newspaper advertisements and street marches in London. The efforts led to the British government imposing a ban on the import of products made from baleen whales. | NGOs also became more outspoken in the protection of endangered species. They became more successful than ever in persuading governments to take wildlife protection seriously. In 1972, the World Wildlife Fund and Friends of the Earth spearheaded a campaign to save the whales through newspaper advertisements and street marches in London. The efforts led to the British government imposing a ban on the import of products made from baleen whales. | ||
Revision as of 11:09, 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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