simon.fiala@seznam.

cz

K & M Chapter 6: Non-state Actors NGOs, Networks, and Social Movements

In: Margaret P. Karns and Karen A. Mingst (Eds.). International organizations: the politics and processes of global governance/ 2nd ed. Pp. 219 - 254.

Notes:
Emergence of the non-state actors as important actors of global governance o ICBL International Treaty to Ban Landmines (1993 1999) o OECD MAI permanently halted Rules dealing with multilateral investment, aiding the spread of MNCs and FDA o Role: framing and reframing an issue discourse at hand, dissemination of information The dark side of non-state actors o 9/11 o Terrorist groups and networks, the Mafia, drug traffickers, pirates, paramilitary forces o New technologies, decentralization, rapid adjustment of roles and strategies o Al-Qaida loose network of terrorist organizations committed to Islam fundamentals Lets define: Non-governmental organizations o = Voluntary organizations formed by individuals to achieve a common purpose, often oriented beyond themselves or to the public good 221 Do not possess a mandate from government, do not wish to share gov. power o Vary in the width of issue areas in terms of being local/regional/global in sources of funding (member contributions/governments/trusts and benefactors) o Provide pressure on governments, services, advice and intelligence, development assistance o Subject to the law of the state under which they operate; may be supported/restricted or banned/monitored and regulated Typology o NGO/INGO voluntary organizations formed by individuals pursuing common purposes and/or policy positions; often active in support of public good; differences in position and funding: GONGO = government organized; GRINGO = government regulated; BINGO = business and industry; AGO = anti-government; DONGO = donor dominate NGOs by involvement Humanitarian relief (Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam) o + development, healthcare, agriculture, reforestation, microcredit, education o Sometimes replace state-governed provision of public goods (state failure) - E.g. Bangladesh, Somalia Lack of government often filled by dark side NGOs too Advocacy o Human rights, peace, disarmament, indigenous peoples rights, labour rights, climate change, 1

simon.fiala@seznam.cz o o New ideas into policy debates, framing of issues in public discourses, Share the centrality of values or principled ideas, the belief that individuals can make a difference, the creative use of information and employment of sophisticated political strategies to in targeting their campaigns 226 Focus: human rights abuses, wildlife protection, regulating types of human activity (weapons, pollution, ) Aim at making a difference: changing behaviour of governments and IGOs, adjusting policies, changing law

o o

Roles o Gather and publicize information o Frame issues for public consumption o Create and mobilize networks; enhance public participation o Advocate changes in policies and governance o Promote new norms; monitoring o Participate in global diplomacy o Perform functions of governance in absence of state authority Transnational networks and coalitions informal and formal linkages among NGOs and ad hoc groups on behalf of a certain issue (e.g. ICBL) Era of communication: multi-level linkages to other organizations across the globe Enhances power, information transfer, reach Equivalent of sub-contracting: INGO outsource relief delivery to grassroots organizations; specialization among nodes (fundraising, intelligence, provision of goods, coordination, ) Experts, Epistemic communities experts drawn from governments, research institutes, IOs, and non-gov. community, usually gathered to ponder about a specific issue and propose policy in the complex world we live in, knowledge cannot be taken for granted; needs to be assembled, nurtured, exchanged formation of epistemic communities linkages between experts in particular areas; sharing and refining of normative beliefs, understanding causes, seeking policy solutions scientific, environmental, health issues knowledge intensive issues global warming, corruption, Foundations: non-profit organizations established for charitable or community purposes (e.g. Wellcome Trust) funded by individuals, families, corporations; serve public purpose MNCs: private actors doing business in three or more countries for profit Important part of the global economy States strive to regulate them; mutual influence Multi-stakeholder actors: Loose alliance of actors affected by or interested in an issue or a decision Inc. government. agencies, IGOs, NMCs, NGOs, religious groups, individuals Sort through conflicting perspectives, establish a communication platform 2

simon.fiala@seznam.cz Social movements: Large, generally informal coalitions of mass public, individuals and organizations aimed at social change May form around major social cleavages: class, religion, language and ethnicity progressive goals: human rights, development, responsible government frame issues, help to forge new collective identities o A global civil society? Civil society = not just advocacy groups, but also communities of professionals, labour unions, chambers of commerce, religious groups, ethnic associations, cultural groups, sporting associations, political parties, media, An arena in which people engage in non-legalistic, spontaneous, customary forms of association to pursue goals The growth of non-state actors o Earliest occurrences: the Anti-Slavery campaign (1787) societies dedicated to abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania, England, France Peace societies in Europe (1849) origination of what later became the Permanent Court of Arbitration 1900 425 peace societies worldwide o 19 century Labour unions, promotion of free trade, intergovernmental cooperation Functional international regimes Red Cross (ICRC 1860s) War casualties, rights of POV, neutrality of medical personnel The idea of League of Nations supported by non-state actors League to Enforce Peace, the League of Nations Society of London The UN covenant: promotion of NGOs and grassroots civil society orgs. Between 1930 1945, the influence of NGOs diminished; world preoccupied with security threats Post-war rise: 1200 NGOs participated in the San Francisco conference (UN) o Explaining the acceleration Since the mid-1970s an exponential growth in NGOs and other NSA WWI, WWII human rights, peace Globalization: Advances in communication technologies, issues increasingly spill over into surrounding areas everything is everyones concern Secularization of the West; rise of democracy NGOs relationships to IGOs o Types of NGO activities in IGOs Consultation in regime creation and implementation Lobbying Surveillance of governmental activities Involvement in international program implementation Participation in decisionmaking Socializing into and synchronizing with the global governance regime 3 o

simon.fiala@seznam.cz The UN Nationwide NGOs granted consultative status in ECOSOC and its agencies, roster NGOs may participate on the basis of invitation NGO liaison office in Geneva Access to committees in the GA 4 NGOs have privileged access (observers): ICRC, the Inter-parliamentary Union, International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Security council consultations with NGOs on certain issues (e.g. the Great Lakes region of Africa crisis; Sudan) The UN agencies The UNs 19 specialized agencies provide additional access points for NGOs The ILO a unique tripartite system rooted in its constitution; labour organizations are its inseparable part UNESCO committed to consultation and cooperation with NGOs Many UN agencies subcontract to NGOs Major INGOs serve in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, chaired by the Undersecretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs Many states and IGO secretariats feel intimidated by the NGO pressure, NGOs not always welcome; rivalry among NGOs o The major economic institutions the World Bank lobbied into taking into account environmental consequences of its programmes and to adopt women-in-development agenda the Bank publishes working papers, contributes to information sharing 1990s shift to civil society opening to cooperation with NGOs o formal and informal links to NGOs The IMF Somewhat less friendly towards civil society groups and NGOs GATT and The WTO likewise The WTO Symposia, regular secretariat meetings with NGOs o Relationships with the EU Well-developed civil society culture, many influential NGOs CSOs = civil society organizations (NGO + advocacy groups) CSOs focus on the EC and the EP CSOs help to make the European decision-making bodies effective and legitimate Open and decentralized processes, big influence of CSOs NGO influence and effectiveness o Almost impossible to measure, considering the vast scope and multiple levels of interaction o No conventional power, limited resources, dependent on the use of soft power o Gain power from credibility in information gathering, expertize, moral authority o Possess operational flexibility compared to governments and IGOs o Possess alternative source of (democratic) legitimacy o Measuring NGOs influence 4 o

simon.fiala@seznam.cz Number of NGOs Prestige and recognition of NGOs o Effectiveness Measuring differs in levels of operation and on whether it is advocacy or provision Depends on openness of government, maturity of civil society, moral authority Evaluation: long-term and practical in terms Limits: fragmented agendas, failing communication, countering interests, money o NGOs problems NGOs are just another political actors they promote their interests first have a democratic deficit, are often unaccountable and not transparent enough emergence of the humanitarian industry competition over resources, rent seeking NGOs may misbehave Large NGOs oligopoly; grassroots voices lacking NSA and state sovereignty? o Liberals: sovereignty is being compromised and challenged by the global civil society o Constructivists: important in norms setting, ergo critical actors; may help to shape state interests and therefore enter international politics from within o Realists: not impressed.