Role of Non Governmental Organizations in International Development - Essay Example

The Role of NGOs in International Development Introduction Among the most essential characteristics of society are development and social justice. A society is bound to progress as it grows old. However, during the times of progression and in between it, social injustices naturally occur. This usually happens when the agents of development, such as multinational corporations, abuse human rights and environmental resources in pursuit of profit. Justice, being inherent in all society, does not permit this. That is why government institutions are established. However, it is not at all times that the state is able to advance the welfare of everyone. Hence, some members of the society have organized NGOs, non-profit, voluntary organizations which seek to promote social justice by protecting the right of human beings and by providing basic social services to them (Koehn, 2002). Since NGOs have a growing impact on the society, it is important to determine and assess their roles. This paper evaluates the role of NGOs in international development through different development theories and by studying specific cases. Ultimately, this paper aims to determine the extent to which society needs NGOs. The Role of NGOs in Relation to Development Theories Development is a complex process which experts attempted to explain through theories. Modernization theory is among those. This theory states that development should aim for economic growth, equity, democracy, political order and stability, and autonomy (Princeton University, 2006). When it comes to economic growth there is but very little, if not absolutely nothing, that NGOs can contribute. However, NGOs can play a huge role in the attainment of the other goals of modernization that Huntington proposed, especially when it comes to equity. People who unite to form NGOs can help in minimizing wealth inequality, which is often manifested by the lack of access by some individuals to basic social needs and services. NGOs may not be able to promote equity in the whole society but they can do so within smaller communities. An excellent example of this is the case of one Romanian NGO called the Association of Former Baragan Deportees of Timisoara, Romania. Under the leadership of Adam Balmez, the NGO united thousands of deportees who lobbied for reparations for their suffering caused by the cruelty of the communist regime. The NGO also helped in bringing to public the suffering that more than 40,000 people had endured because of communist brutality. The Association has not limited its actions into legally advancing the rights of deportees. It has also provided its members with basic social and legal services (Scott, 2004, p. 185). In relation to modernization theory, the Association has served the role of creating social equity and enhancing democracy. Civic voluntarism is important in keeping the democracy of a country active while the structure and participation of volunteers in an NGO serve as an excellent democratic model. While NGOs play a domestic role in modernization theory, their role in dependency theory is primarily international, which they fulfill by intervening for social and economic equality. In order to understand the role of NGOs under this theory, it is important to understand that dependency theory primarily explains development as the result of the interaction between countries, which are divided into two groups: dominant and dependent (Ferraro, 1996). Since developing countries are dependent on progressive nations for development, it is the role of NGOs to oversee that dominant countries do not use their power for exploitation. Additionally, it is the role NGOs under this theory to make the condition of poorer countries known to the whole of human society in order to achieve social equity. Both roles are played by Britain-based Overseas Development Institute. While the world was intent on how the global recession would affect dominant countries, it has overlooked the recession’s far-reaching and intensive effects on poorer nations. ODI researched and informed the G-20 of the conditions of struggling African countries, and proposed a $50 billion stimulus fund Africa (Overseas Development Institute, 2009a). Meanwhile, in playing its role as an economic arbitrator, ODI has criticized the economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the European Union and African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. It pointed out several flaws in the agreement which may result to policies which would be unfavorable to dependent countries. After ODI’s intervention, the European Union allowed the ACP countries more time to review the policies and to propose amendments (Overseas Development Institute, 2009b). A more encompassing development theory exists alongside modernization and dependency theories. Called the world systems theory, it explains development as a process that is dependent on the global economy. This theory proposes that there are no separate economies and the world is one giant economic system where each nation’s decisions have a global impact. Additionally, this theory maintains that the economy and politics share a reciprocal relationship (Mossmann, 2007, p. 2). In this theory, the role of NGO is to fight unfair policies in the global economy in order to help struggling countries develop. Such role is played by Oxfam as it continues to fight what it calls the “rigged rules of global trade.” Among the unfair global trade rules that Oxfam contests is dumping, which rich economies currently practice. Dumping happens when a rich country subsidizes its producers so they would be able to sell their products at lower prices. Because of dumping, richer countries easily defeat poorer nations in the global market. Such is the case in the cotton competition between the United States and Burkina Faso. U.S. producers are able to sell cheaper cotton since they are subsidized by their government. Oxfam currently campaigns for the removal of U.S. subsidies to their farmers so poor countries would have a chance for fair competition (Oxfam International, n.d.). Advantages of NGOs in Addressing Development Issues Evans-Kent and Bleiker enumerated several advantages of NGOs when it comes to addressing development issues (cited in Carey & Richmond, 2003, pp. 103-105). First, NGOs are free from the influence of domestic and international politics, which allows them to carry their purpose without any political bias. Since NGOs are viewed as non-partisan, they have become effective agents in resolving political conflicts which hinder development. This advantage gives NGOs the power to unite conflicting countries or parties towards development. Second, NGOs can focus on a single developmental concern and provide expert knowledge and services on their respective fields. The Institute of Development Studies, for example, is made of up research teams from different universities who specialize in studying a wide variety of topics. IDS offers research topics on globalization, governance, vulnerability and poverty reduction, and many other topics related to development (Institute of Development Studies, n.d.). This advantage gives NGOs the ability to provide informed opinion towards development. Finally, NGOs are popular among communities so they can get support or patrons from sources outside their organizations. This advantage allows NGOs to take active roles in addressing social development issues. Water.org, for example, is able to provide water sources to developing countries such as Honduras, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, and Kenya because of the strong support it gets from the public (Water.org, n.d.). This advantage gives the NGOs power to actively work for development. Disadvantages of NGOs in Addressing Development Issues Despite the significant contributions of NGOs to the society, it cannot be denied that some of them create disadvantages to development. First, NGOs have the tendency to be biased against certain groups. For example Steinberg (2003) accused Derrick Pounder of Amnesty International of issuing biased statements against Israel when it dubbed the country’s operation Defensive Shield as a massacre. Bias against one party, country, or group of people is against the role of NGOs as agents of equity and political order under the theory of modernization. Second, the favorable view of the public for NGOs may also pose a disadvantage since people will immediately believe those institutions which they highly esteem. Their high regard for NGOs may prevent them from analyzing, assessing, or criticizing the intentions and actions of such organizations. Political parties or dominant countries may also use the non-partisan image of NGOs in advancing their schemes or promoting exploitative policies and trade agreements. NGOs will most likely deny such claims but the possibility that it happens is very high. Because NGOs are non-profit organizations, they get their funds from individuals who adhere to their advocacies. However, individual donations would naturally not suffice to keep an NGO going. Organizations need greater support in order to accomplish their goals. Hence, they accept funds from governments and private corporations. Robins notes that NGOs are, at present, receiving greater support from political and government organizations (cited in Shah, 2005). This weakens the autonomy of NGOs since it subjects them to capitalist and political manipulations (Shah, 2005). Aside from that, being a non-profit makes NGOs more vulnerable to dispersion since their projects have costs but some of them have no permanent source of funds. The costs of running an NGO are not only limited to the implementation of projects. NGOs also need money in keeping their organization intact. Shah (2005) notes that many NGOs pay top-ranking members excessively high wages while only a small percentage of the funds they get actually go to addressing development problems. This disadvantage may betray the role of NGOs as non-profit organizations since some people may intentionally join them because of the huge financial opportunities that such organizations present. There is also a huge possibility that corruption exists within NGOs because, unlike the government, they are not bound to make their transactions transparent to the public. Additionally, NGOs may lack the rigid auditing that private corporations have. Role of NGOs and Development Projects in International Business In 2001, Coca-Cola partnered with UNAIDS to fight AIDS in Africa (McNeil, 2001). Several years before that partnership, the multi-national corporation has been criticized for enticing poverty-stricken people to spend the little money they have on unhealthy drink. However, because of the humanitarian efforts it has exerted over the last decade, Coca-Cola now enjoys a favorable status among NGOs (China CSR, 2006). Coca-Cola’s case represents the change in the relationship between NGOs and international businesses. While international businesses were previously criticized for exploiting both human and natural resources, especially in third world countries, they are now more favorably viewed because of their support for humanitarian and environmental projects. This implicates a new role for NGOs and development projects in international business. Partnership with businesses may reduce the role of NGOs to that of advertisers and corporate props since businesses could use them to build for themselves a more favorable image and thus gain wider patronage among consumers. Also, businesses may use development projects to their corporate advantage and to hide their malicious intent. This is particularly true in “greenwashing,” where companies pose themselves, through development projects, as environmentally friendly organizations (Chameides, 2008). Shell, for example, constantly advertises its efforts in formulating more environment-friendly oil and in providing thousands of jobs (Shell Canada, n.d.). Partnership with businesses could also prevent NGOs from criticizing their partners and thus weaken their role as watchdogs in international development. Businesses may intentionally partner with NGOs to weaken opposition to their projects. Several years ago, Shell partnered with Greenpeace to boost its earth-friendly image (Cowe, 2004) and probably to win the support of the environmental advocate. Amidst speculations that Greenpeace would be less critical of its partner, it has remained a champion of the environment, criticizing Shell recently for its environmentally degrading operations in Alberta, Canada (Claudette, 2008). Greenpeace’s unrelenting activism shows that while other NGOs might become less critical of their partners, some remain to strictly adhere to their advocacies. The highly independent attitude of some NGOs gives rise to the question of why businesses would have to partner with organizations that they cannot fully control in the first place. The answer of this leads back to the fact that NGOs are highly esteemed by the public and, therefore, they can affect international demand. Friends of Earth, for instance, have campaigned to let consumers know that they can use their money “as a tool for change” (Kong, Salzmann, Steger, & Somers, 2002, p. 110). By using their credibility, NGOs give themselves the power to play the role of agents for sustainable development and consumption. Conclusion Non-government organizations are important in international development in advancing humanitarian and environment concerns. NGOs play the role both of criticizers and active agents towards positive change. However, there is a need to check the credibility of some NGOs since partnership with businesses or political organizations might make them bias in some development issues. It cannot be fully determined yet if partnership with businesses improves the role of NGOs in international development. Additional research on a greater number NGOs and their response to partnership with businesses is necessary to determine the impact of business-NGO partnerships in international development. However, it is arguably evident that the existence of NGOs does make businesses adopt more humanitarian and environmentally friendly policies. The principal conclusion of this paper is that NGOs are necessary in human society since they act in between the interest of corporations and the government. However, findings also suggest the need for a more intensive study of NGOs, especially in their relationships with political and business organizations. References Carey, H.F., & Richmond, O.P., eds., 2003. Mitigating conflict: The role of NGOs. London: Frank Cass. Chameides, B., 2008. When is greenwashing at play? [Online] Duke University. Available at: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/thegreengrok/greenwashing [Accessed 21 April 2010]. China CSR, 2006. Coca-Cola commits to United Nations global compact. 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