NGOs performing governmental functions - Essay Example

However, there are cases where these NGOs work alongside or in collaboration with government organizations to pursue broader communal efforts that have various political agendas. In such instances, the NGOs ensure that it does not include any politicians or representatives of government in their organizational operations, thereby retaining its non-governmental position. This paper will cover how the non-government organization (NGOs) came into existence, their purpose, and how these organizations affect or help the government.

The paper will also discuss the role of NGOs as a government subsidiary in performing important government functions, and will highlight key organizations that have performed humanitarian or development-oriented work in collaboration of various government agencies. History of NGOs Non-governmental organizations were present in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century fighting for women rights, and engaged in movements against slavery. The World Disarmament Conference was seen as the biggest showcase for non-governmental organizations, with the official term of NGO coming into existence with the United Nations Organization in 1945.

The United Nations gave legal provisions to these organizations and they were categorized as neither government bodies nor a member organisation or state of United Nations; instead the United Nations defines a Non-Governmental Organisation as autonomous associations of people not obliged under any international treaty, working in humanitarian and charitable work, and bringing common people close to the governments (Chiang, 1981). It is imperative for NGOs to have extensive networking relationships across borders to be successful.

It needs to incorporate various cultural, political and religious values of each country and operate according to the legal structures in which these countries allow these non-governmental organizations to function. They are broadly classified under four main groups globally, which include “Unincorporated and voluntary association”, “Trusts, charities and foundations”, “Companies not just for profit” and “Entities formed or registered under special NGO or non-profit laws” (Stillman 2007).

Once the term NGO was coined, the western countries saw an extensive increase in the development of non-governmental organizations, as these countries were in a transitional period of structuring their country and defining it as a welfare state. The significance of NGOs increased even further with the fall of Communism, and rapid Globalisation, as many problems were seen having magnitude beyond the scope of a single nation and could only be dealt under an international enterprise (Langhorne, The Coming of Globalization 2001).

World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Economic Forum are examples of such international treaties but they are capitalist in nature. Many feel that these organizations do more harm than aid third world economies as they are used as tools to dictate western political agendas in these countries. Therefore, many NGOs have developed to counterbalance this trend, with emphasis in sustainable development, developmental aid, and humanitarian issues (Langhorne 2006). One example of such organization is World Social Forum, but yet there are criticisms as to the role the NGOs undertake. They